Installing Cloudera Hadoop on Mac

Step1: Passwordless ssh.

Try ssh-ing your own machine

$ ssh localhost

Without passwordless ssh, you will need to enter your password to login into your own system through ssh. To so

$ ssh-keygen

the command will ask for the location of the id_rsa and the id_rsa.pub keys. Press enter to accept the default location.
The command will ask for the passphrase. Just press enter to not have any password at all (afterall, we are trying to achieve passwordless-ssh) 

The command sometimes ends with a wierd random art of the key like this. 

+--[ RSA 2048]----+
|               -.|
|              .+o|
|              A=o|
|       .      ..=|
|        P .. . O |
|       . . .o    |
|          . F.. .|
|           +.o.o |
|          o O=+  |
+-----------------+

or just a cryptic fingerprint like this a2:b1:5e:6f:2a:a2:d7:3f:d1:e5:5a:aa:ab:c5:e8:2a

But yea, don't get scared. you do not have to remember them :P
now go to your home directory and copy the pub file to authorized_keys. 

$ cd /Users/rajgopalv
$ cd .ssh
$ cp id_*.pub authorized_keys
$ ssh localhost


some times, when you login for a first time to the host, you will be asked with a security warning of some kind... 

The authenticity of host 'localhost (::1)' can't be established.

RSA key fingerprint is <<[then finger print]>>

Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

just type "yes" and continue. The system should not ask a password, and you should be able to login successfully.

Step-2 : Download the CDH4 tarballs.

The Hadoop and its family of softwares are available in tarball format in here : https://ccp.cloudera.com/display/SUPPORT/CDH4+Downloadable+Tarballs

Go ahead and download the stuff you want. 
But to begin with, let me start with downloading the "hadoop-2.0.0+922" tarball. If you want to run mapreduce version1 (i.e. nmot Yarn, ) then download the "hadoop-0.20-mapreduce-0.20.2+1341" tar ball too (recomended)

Now, unzip these tarballs and place them wherever you wnat them to get installed. I personally prefer a "Softwares" folder in my home directory.

$ pwd
/Users/rajgopalv/Softwares
$ ls -ld hadoop*
drwxr-xr-x@ 14 rajgopalv  1668562246  476 Feb  7 07:00 hadoop-2.0.0-cdh4.1.3

drwxr-xr-x@ 29 rajgopalv  1668562246  986 Feb  6 11:20 hadoop-2.0.0-mr1-cdh4.1.3

Step-3: Configure

DFS configuration : 

go to the hadoop hadoop-2.0.0-cdh4.1.3/etc/hadoop directory and edit the core-site.xml to look like this . 

<configuration>
    <property>
        <name>fs.default.name</name>
        <value>hdfs://localhost:8020</value>
    </property>
    <property>
        <name>hadoop.tmp.dir</name>
        <value>/Users/rajgopalv/hadoop/data</value>
        <!-- ofcourse you can use any directory you want. -->
    </property>
</configuration>

and hdfs-site.xml to look like this:

<configuration>

    <property>
        <name>dfs.replication</name>
        <value>1</value>
    </property>
</configuration>

Similarly, configure the map-reduce too. Go to hadoop-2.0.0-mr1-cdh4.1.3/conf/ directory and edit the mapred-site.xml to look like this.

<configuration>
 <property>
    <name>mapred.job.tracker</name>
    <value>localhost:8021</value>
  </property>
</configuration>

Step-4: Run!

Now its time to format and start the DFS: 

go to the hadoop-2.0.0-cdh4.1.3 folder in your terminal.

$ cd /Users/rajgopalv/Softwares/hadoop-2.0.0-cdh4.1.3

$ bin/hdfs namenode -format

13/03/12 00:27:06 INFO namenode.NameNode: STARTUP_MSG:

/************************************************************

STARTUP_MSG: Starting NameNode

STARTUP_MSG:   host = Nucleus/192.168.2.106

STARTUP_MSG:   args = [-format]

STARTUP_MSG:   version = 2.0.0-cdh4.1.3

STARTUP_MSG:   classpath = /Users/rajgopalv.......... [etc etc..]

************************************************************/

blah bhal blah

13/03/12 00:27:07 INFO namenode.NNStorageRetentionManager: Going to retain 1 images with txid >= 0

13/03/12 00:27:07 INFO util.ExitUtil: Exiting with status 0

13/03/12 00:27:07 INFO namenode.NameNode: SHUTDOWN_MSG:

/************************************************************

SHUTDOWN_MSG: Shutting down NameNode at Nucleus/192.168.2.106

************************************************************/

The important thing to notice is "Exiting with status 0". Status 0 indicates all is well. :)
Now start the DFS.

$ sbin/start-dfs.sh

now, http://localhost:50070/dfshealth.jsp must display the health of your DFS 
To start the mapreduce module.,  go to hadoop-2.0.0-mr1-cdh4.1.3 directory in your terminal.

$ cd /Users/rvaithiyanathan/Softwares/hadoop-2.0.0-mr1-cdh4.1.3
$ bin/start-mapred.sh

now, http://localhost:50030/jobtracker.jsp should show your mapreduce jobs. 

Bravo! you are good to go. 

Possible things that could go wrong: 

Set your java home before you start anything. 

$ export JAVA_HOME=/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Home/

Try different port numbers in the configuration.

Although, I 've shown here that the DFS is configured on 8020 and mapreduce is configured on 8021, some other softwares might be using these ports. So feel free to try different ports.

Do you have permissions to the hadoop.tmp.dir ?

the directory that you specified in hadoop.tmp.dir must be writable by you. This is the reason i've specified a directory under my home-directory itself.

I say, check out the *.log files in the directories. hadoop-2.0.0-mr1-cdh4.1.3/logs and hadoop-2.0.0-cdh4.1.3/logs/ .. They could be a little cryptic if you are a beginner, but you will get used to it :)

Let me know if there are any doubts.!

The Forces Of The Fourth Dimension

Let us consider the universe as a three dimensional space. Every body can move in all the three dimensions.  Of course, nothing moves voluntarily. There’s a reason for a body to move in this space. The Newton’s first law!

Newton’s Law 1: Every body persists in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight forward, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by force impressed

It looks so simple huh? But for scientists it did not.  What happens if I drop a ball? Why does it come back to earth? What force did act on the ball to make it move towards earth? The answer was Gravity!  Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass. The earth’s larger mass, attracted the ball’s lesser mass and makes it come back to earth.

So far so good.

Now, let’s start considering the fourth dimension:  The Time.  The universe is constantly moving in the time dimension.  Now, doesn’t this ring any bells? How can this universe move in its fourth dimension without being applied some kind of force in the time dimension?

To answer this question, we must make ourselves aware of the fourth dimension. The time dimension is hard to perceive.  Absolute time (for that matter, even absolute space) cannot be experienced. Today is Aug 21, 2011 because, some day someone said, “Okay folks! Let’s call this day ‘The Day 1’ ”. (Day 1 is usually considered as the precise moment when the Big Bang took place) And we think time began since then. But what happened before that “Day 1”? Did time not exist? Of course it did. Time dimension is infinite (just like space)!

Every body in the universe moves in all 4 dimensions. The immediate question that you would ask me is: “How fast are we moving in the time dimension?” Let me ask you something first. Imagine that you are in a train. Now you are asked to run inside the train with a uniform speed of 100 meters per minute. Now in 2 minutes, you would’ve covered 200 meters right? Now imagine, if the train was moving in a uniform speed of 80 KM/hour (in the same direction that you were running). Now in 2 minutes, you think you ran 200 meters, but for the guy who’s standing outside the train, you did not just displace yourself 200 meters. The train’s displacement also counts for him [I’m too lazy to actually do the math. But you get the point right?]

To know how fast we are moving in time, we should get out of the universe, stay in absolute time and measure how fast we are moving in time. May be we are not moving (in time dimension) one second in one second. May be we are moving centuries (relative) in one second (absolute). This is the basic funda behind time travel.

Now coming back to the original topic; be it relative or absolute time, we are constantly moving in time. If Newtons law is applicable in this dimension too, then I believe that some kind of force acted upon the universe at time 0 or something, that’s making us move in the time dimension. This thought gives us a new perspective of viewing the time dimension. Like kinetic energy, potential energy etc. of the spatial dimensions, are there any energies in the time dimension? Are there any forces in time dimension? How can one apply any force (if possible) to an object in time dimension? I do not know the answers yet.!

But assuming Newton’s law is applicable in all the dimensions, I believe the universe was given a heavy blow of force in the time dimension at some point in time and that’s what is making us move in the time dimension. Now here’s another question. Did the universe experience an one time blow of force in the time dimension or is experiencing a continuous force, something like the gravity, in the time dimension. If it was continuous force, we’ll not be moving uniformly. [The ball accelerates itself when it drops closer to the ground because of the continuous gravitational force being acted upon it]. But as we move in time, the time’s not getting any faster or slower. In a million years, one second was always one second.  Or………. Is it just what we think? J To compare this with the train example, the guy inside the train ALWAYS thinks, that he’s running in a speed of 100 meters per minute, irrespective of the speed of train. What if the train is not moving in a uniform speed? What if it is accelerating or decelerating?

So probably the universe isn’t moving uniformly in time. We need to be in the absolute time to verify this. But if such is the case, then there’s a force called “Time-gravitational force” which is acting upon the universe. But how do we verify this? How do we measure it? What are the basic laws of the universe in the time dimension?

I’m being either innovative or missing something really fundamental. Ideas are welcome!

Late to Amrita

Its been a long time since i blogged. Not getting time.. Busy @ work.! But i couldn't stop myself from blogging this. This was a mail that i wrote to my friends a few days back.

That day, I woke up late and knew I was late to office. Suddenly i remembered all the days when i and my friends went late to our college. The thoughts were running like a movie in my mind all the time when i was traveling to my office. The first thing i did after reaching my cabin - I wrote the mail to my friends : Santhosh, Babu, Karthick, Vijay and Vishwa,

The wonderful day will start when you wake up at 8'oclock and realize that you'll be late to college today. You some how manage to get ready and catch a 96 bus at 8.30. Travelling in a crowded bus till Ettimadai is really tiring!

You reach Ettimadai. 30 ruppees is too much to spend for an auto! so we wait for someone to give lift or wish someone will appear to share the auto ride. Its a prestige issue to share a ride with a girl or to take lift from juniors. So you miss half the chance that you get and get more late to college.

You reach the college some how. You rush in while searching for the ID card in the bag. Sometimes you forget it. But to cross the security gate without ID card was bigger than surviving the day inside the college. Then you run from the main block to the IT block. You can hear the prayers. You'll listen them carefully trying to figure out how much time you have before the prayer gets over. But alas, when you are somewhere near Aashram you hear two voices (one from IT block and one from Main block). To add to your unluckiness, the prayers from IT block ends faster. You start walking slower.

You take out your mobile and SMS your friend who is sitting up there in ITB class. "Machi.. ippo enna class ?".. When you get to know some DUMB teacher is taking the class, you dare to enter the class late. But if it was some strict teacher, you'll plan to go to the canteen instead, worrying about the attendance lack problem.! To your surprise, you'll see one more friend sitting in the canteen with a very similar story for coming late. Happy. As days went, we learnt that our HOD spends the first hour in canteen with other HODs. So we avoided canteen as the "late comers lounge". We go to Library instead (The only times we get into library).
You'll message your friend "Machi.. class mudinja sollu".

After the bell rings, you rush out of library (cursing the friend who forgot to inform you about the class getting over). You run so fast up the stairs to the class, making sure you reach the class before the next hour's teacher comes. But sometimes it happens that you reach the class even before the first hour teacher hasn't left. You stand in the door. Teacher looking at you. you looking at the teacher. Friends giggling at your embarrassment. The silence will be broken by the teacher, "En lateu ?? Poi late pass vaangeetu vaanga."

You walk to the office room to get late pass. Some of us will have the older late pass and try to escape with that. Some of us go to the toilet, wait till the teacher leaves and rush back to the class. Some of us just show an EMPTY SCRAP and claim it as our latepass. Finally after one hour , you settle down in the class and start explaining friends why you came late.



Today I was late to the office. None cared! Nothing happened.!


I miss college. I miss u guys!

The thread went upto a series of about 70 mails,.. maathi maathi feelings a potukittom!

The Monkey Business

For The past few months, I’ve been keeping Monkey pictures as my display picture in my social networking profiles. When I get bored by one monkey, I would search for another cool monkey and put it in my profile. This was the normal routine.




These monkey pictures will usually describe my mood. I put this monkey on the right one day when I got crazy and started learning “Introduction to Brahma sutra”





This one was a normal smiling monkey. This was not up for a long time in my profile. The monkey looks “balled” I didn’t like this monkey for that. :D So I quickly changed my display picture.






This one was a normal naughty chimp. This one was up for a long time. I liked this picture.


When I got B+ in my project, I was damn upset. I worked like NEVER before, and the result is just B+? This picture seemed to describe my mood. This dumb monkey bored my profile in a few days and I started searching for a new monkey picture. And the “hero” appeared.


This Monkey picture was so simple, so cool. First of all, this picture does not completely look like a monkey. This resembles a human face (because the monkey mouth is absent.) Actually this picture reminded me about my childhood hero - “The jungle book” character Mougly! This was my favorite monkey picture I ever had. Also in some Orkut communities, I play this game – “Best thing about the profile above you”. And most of the people who posted for me voted for the profile picture.


When I choose a display picture for my profile, I (actually most of us) usually choose that picture that best suits my mood. During the First week of October, I was searching for a monkey with a graduation hat or the black gown or something to do with the graduation, because, I was about to get graduated on October 7th. But I couldn’t find the perfect picture.


The picture in the left came up. But wasn’t cool enough to put in my profile. I liked my monkey picture so much that I didn’t want to give it up.! And slowly my monkey started talking to me – “Raj, of course u hate to give up me. Also you know a little Photoshop. Why don’t you give me a graduation hat and let me continue to be your profile picture?” I said – “Monkey, You are a genius! It will be COOL and CREATIVE!” and I decided – “Cool! Hereafter the monkey with the theme is going to be my display picture”



I googled for a graduation hat and gave it to my monkey. Bravo! “The monkey got graduated!” This was my profile picture for a week before and after the graduation. I didn’t stop with this. I had my status as, “The monkey is going to get graduated” and “Yeah! The monkey got graduated!” And it goes like this,


[ Image - removed - by - owner ]
When TCS gave me the joining date, I was excited, and gave the monkey the TCS theme. This display picture was there for a week. I’m leaving this city for my job in a few days.






Coming back to the monkey business - The picture in the right side is presently my display picture. I’m excited and happy. So is my monkey! :D





You wouldn’t believe people’s reaction to these themed monkeys. Here are a few questions aked by my friends.!

Debanjan: I was amused when you call urself monkey :P

Praveen: why you call yourself monkey??? sorry to ask.. but i have seen you putting pics of a Monkey and now a status msg a monkey got graduated..:P

Dev: are you crazy abt monkey? :)

Life is to party: actually y u stuck wit tat monkey face?

Sai: So, why are you called monkey ?

Arun : but still oly i can understand d inner meanin of d pic.. (Which he doesn't )

Anand Arun : hey... wanted to ask u something -- whats the story behind this monkey stuff ??

:) !!! LOL ROFL ROLF ROFL LOL !!! :)

I had no idea as what to reply when they asked me such questions. :D I just came up with totally random answers. I was like - “Man is from monkey. Monkey is the super class. So Man can always be down casted to a monkey”, “Dude, Recently I was trying to make a decision. I was constantly jumping between the choices like monkey”, “I was totally amused by Vivekananda’s comparison of man’s mind with the monkey’s mind”, “and I always liked monkeys”, “Dude. Don’t call it monkey. It’s Lord Hanumaan in 21st century style.”, “When I was a kid I loved monkey cartoons.” and many crazy reasons :)

Honestly – I don’t know. I just liked the picture so much! It was sarcasm when I said – “The monkey got graduated”. It’s really dramatic when I quote what I think in the name of monkey (which is my personified brain).

Thanks to all the monkeys who were in my display picture. About the present monkey - The original monkey’s file name was, “walker_jamar_monkey_icon.jpg” and I’ve been searching for this monkey picture in the internet for the past few weeks and I couldn’t find it.

The monkey business will continue to run :)

Have you ever noticed?

Whenever we start doing a work, we give our full attention in it. By giving such a focused attention, one may not notice simple things going on around. Try this: When your friend finds a little dirt in his wrist watch, he rubs it for around a minute to clean it. After he’s done ask him “Dude… What is the time”? He can’t tell without looking back at his watch. All this while he was looking the “glass” of the watch but he wouldn’t have noticed the time, which is just 2mm behind it! PHD people suffer this problem in a bigger scale! In PHD/research they concentrate too much in a little area for too long and when they come out they’ll know nothing but their subject. Some of them, who realize this, get a kind-of inferiority complex too. Fine! That’s not my point now in my post today! I’m awfully jobless in these holidays, that I started noticing a few things around that I’ve never given importance so far. I play cards all the time, my favorite games indeed. I’ve even coded the solitaire game in C.! But here are a few things I failed to notice.



[Whenever I say CARD, I mean A card from a STANDARD CARD SET, like the one above.]
When you hold a card in hand, have you noticed if u are holding it in a proper way or upside down? I Know most of us haven’t. Most of us think cards are symmetric along its (both) diagonal and will look exactly same either way! Well NO!!

The very asymmetric nature of the symbols(formally called suit) makes the card asymmetric. Only in dies [where the symbol itself is symmetric] almost all the cards are symmetric! 7♦ is the only die card that is asymmetric in a standard card set. This is because, for some reason, in any card, the max number of symbols present in a row is only 2. But, 7=2+2+2+1; 2 symbols are up, 2 are down, 2 are in the middle, and the position of the last ♦ determines the orientation.

In other sets, the royals are always symmetric. Odds are never symmetric! This is because, if n = the number written in the card ; u can put floor ((n/2)) symbols upwards, floor ((n/2)) symbols upside down and you’ll have 1 symbol left. The orientation of that symbol determines the orientation of the card! Knowing this, one might expect all the even cards to be symmetric (because they have equal number of symbols to put in either side). But again for some crappy reasons, I found in cards 6 & 8, they’ve put both the symbols of the middle row in the same orientation. If they make one of them face up and the other down, the cards would’ve been symmetric. But they haven’t. This makes 6 & 8 asymmetric and all other even cards symmetric.

Let us come to the royals[formally called as the "court cards"]. No royal guy faces your eyes directly. They either look at your left or to your right. Some of the royals are turned 90◦ (they show only one eye) - formally called "one-eyed" and some are turned just 45◦ (both of their eyes are visible). Only in the set of ♣ s, all the 3 royals are turned 45◦. In all other sets, 2 of them would’ve turned 45◦ and one would’ve turned 90◦. In none of the suits, all the royals will see the same direction. Only in ♦s, 2 will look at your right. And 1 will at your left. In others, 2 will look at your left and 1 at your right.

["Looks at" Differs from sets to set.. But MOST of the Standard sets has this ]

Card Looks at* Beard Mustache Turned

J♦ Right No No 45◦
Q♦ Right n/a n/a 45◦
K♦ Left Yes Yes 90◦
J♣ Left No No 45◦
Q♣ Right n/a n/a 45◦
K♣ Left Yes Yes 45◦
J♥ Right No Yes 90◦
Q♥ Left n/a n/a 45◦
K♥ Left Yes No 45◦
J♠ Left No Yes 90◦
Q♠ Left n/a n/a 45◦
K♠ Right Yes Yes 45◦

Things to notice in royals... Quote from wikipedia.:

Though specific design elements of the court cards are rarely used in game play and many differ between designs, a few are notable. The Jack of Spades, Jack of Hearts, and King of Diamonds are drawn in profile, while the rest of the courts are shown in full face; these cards are commonly called "one-eyed". When deciding which cards are to be made wild in some games, the phrase "acey, deucey, one-eyed jack" (or "deuces, aces, one-eyed faces") is sometimes used, which means that aces, twos, and the one-eyed jacks are all wild. The King of Hearts is the only King with no mustache, and is also typically shown with a sword behind his head, making him appear to be stabbing himself. This leads to the nickname "suicide king". The axe held by the King of Diamonds is behind his head with the blade facing toward him. He is traditionally armed with an axe while the other three kings are armed with swords, and thus the King of Diamonds is sometimes referred to as "the man with the axe" because of this. This is the basis of the trump "one-eyed jacks and the man with the axe". The Jack of Diamonds is sometimes known as "laughing boy". The Ace of Spades, unique in its large, ornate spade, is sometimes said to be the death card, and in some games is used as a trump card. The Queen of Spades usually holds a scepter and is sometimes known as "the bedpost queen", though more often she is called "Black Lady". In many decks, the Queen of Clubs holds a flower. She is thus known as the "flower Queen", (though in many playing cards from Germany and Sweden she is depicted with a fan) though this design element is among the most variable; the standard Bicycle Poker deck depicts all Queens with a flower styled according to their suit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Few card sets for u :
• http://read.pudn.com/downloads38/sourcecode/game/131555/%E6%8D%89%E9%BA%BB%E5%AD%90%E6%AD%A3/%E6%B8%B8%E6%88%8F%E5%AE%A2%E6%88%B7%E7%AB%AF/Res/CARD__.jpg
• http://www.jfitz.com/cards/windows-playing-cards.png
• http://pixhost.ws/avaxhome/2007-12-31/ist2_3811721_playing_cards.jpg
• http://math.hws.edu/eck/cs124/s06/lab12/cards.png
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/b/b3/20081219011019!Set_of_playing_cards_52.JPG
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Cards.jpg

References from wiki :
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_card
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suit_(cards)

Who am i ?

The code written below is a perfectly standardized C code (would u believe it?). Read the entire code once and then try running this code to see WHO AM I !!
Compile instructions.
first :Copy the code and save it as "raj.c"
GCC COMPILER -
$ cc raj.c
$ ./a.out

TC
put raj.c in the forder containing TC.EXE
Open TC
File > Open : raj.c
Press CTRL+F9 to run the code
Press CTRL+F5 to see the output.

---

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// USE GOOGLE CHROME SEE THE CODE.
// IN IE OR FIREFOX, ZOOM IN SO THAT THE BLOG FILLS UP THE WIDTH OF
// ... THE SCREEN.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
#include                               <stdio.h >
#define                                CSTR             char*STR
#define                                a                       =
#define                                F                       ,
main(){
CSTR     a         "I AM THE MASTER OF C ; U WANT TO KNOW WHO I AM ? \
EXECUTE THIS CODE AND SEE\
KTQRIDEQIDFQBAEEEFDJEEECJBJDEDJCIBFKEBPMDBOMEBIAFHIBIBFEDAFBICFBDEDBI\
EEADEDBIFRBIHPBD_D^E]E]" ;
int     ____________                                                ,

         R   a  'J'                                                 ,
         ___________                                                ,
        A   a   R   F
        E   a   1   F
        C   a   E   ;
for     (   ;   A a STR [ R++ ]     ;   )
for     (   ;   A >= 'A' ;--A,++C       )
putchar (   C%'#'   ?    33 ^   !(R&1   )
        :   '#'     /    3.5            );
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

---

This is one OBFUSCATED C code written by me.
I took 45 minutes[approx] to understand the original inda map obfuscated code. I again took 45 minutes to code this program. This code has exactly the same logic of the India map code. Once i finished it, I felt like GOD :)

Entangled In The Web - Revision

Devi Narayana Das is one of my very close friends. In his blog, he wrote a wonderful article called entangled in the web. In his article Das claims that computers and internet has actually crept into our system that we are dependent on them so badly.

This argument was familiar to me. I spend more than 75% of the day (when I’m awake and jobless) online, and I have had similar thoughts. But I didn’t really work on it to find out if it is right or wrong. When I read his article, I was surprised. So I’m not the only person to contemplate this!

I’ve quoted his article below. Do visit the original one: http://rdndas.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/entangled-in-the-web/

After my college, life hasn’t been beautiful. Lots of time to kill but there is practically nothing to do or that is what I feel. I’m just aimlessly idling in bed or in front of the computer, signing-in to the virtual world. That’s it. The only good thing that has happened during these days is that I’ve started reading books. Thanks to my friend without whom I wouldn’t have started. He influenced me in a sense.

Computer and internet play a major role in our lives these days. It has actually crept into our system that we are dependent on them so badly. Whenever I misplace something or finding something becomes difficult, I wonder if I had a google.com or a Ctrl+F shortcut key… This shows how dependent I am on computers/internet. I’m addicted!

On one hand these social networking sites help us to keep in touch with our pals but on the other it has also enslaved us. Like all the other technologies, internet has its own advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately our human mind easily succumbs to the disadvantages. I don’t know whom to blame – the technology or my monkey mind!? I should find out a method to come out of this addiction. Is there any rehabilitation centre for these addictions?

Every night I say to myself, “Ok I should stop this. I’m not going online tomorrow”, but the first thing I do is that. I go online saying, “I’m just gonna check my mail. That’s it. Its gonna take few minutes.” Later I realise that it has been more than an hour, I’m not checking mails but I’m somewhere else, entangled in the web! May be I have a very weak will power.

Though being online, browsing and reading, downloading stuffs, chatting etc. have helped me a lot but it is taking away my sleep – sleeping at odd times. I’m missing all the fun in the outside world. I knew Obama was going to have a new pet even before he actually bought it but didn’t know that my neighbour died, I knew it only two days after! I also miss one or two odd cricket matches that I used to play with my friends. The casual talk with my family and friends. I used to do a lot in those days, not now! I miss them!

There should be a way out to stop this! But the question is, can I? Any remedies guys?

-A frustrated addict yelling for help.

Oh my god! This does really makes us think. Doesn’t it? But when I said, I had similar thoughts before, I didn’t think of this in his outlook. I had a different perspective. And here is my reply to his question.

Dude, I pity you. You’ve got nothing. Still u worry about it?

Computers and internets are one of the few things that the modern technology has gifted us. And you are ‘just another’ user of it. Everybody uses computers and internets, social networking and everybody feels “if I had a google.com or a Ctrl+F shortcut key” for searching even physical stuff. I do not say its regular just because everyone does it.

But tell me what exactly what is your problem? New technologies are invented for the sole purpose of comforting man. If you think it makes u lazy you are wrong. It just makes you efficient. All that matters is your attitude and mainly interest. You didn’t know that your neighbor passed away for 2 days just because: only that much interest you have on your neighbor. Dude I’ve to confess: I don’t know much about what is happening even in my house!!! That’s just because I’m crazy about computers! You’ll naturally prefer what fascinates you more.

Your attitude is like the church’s attitude towards anesthetic when it was invented. Church said, men are meant to experience pain during surgery. What say? Do you agree? Imagine if you were in 1940s. For travelling you would’ve used only your legs. Then suddenly one guy invents motor bike. Will u say: “Motorbike makes me lazy. If I walk, I get a physical exercise. Motorbike gives only obesity. Motorbike SUCKS!!”? No. You’ll appreciate it for making your travel so much comfortable.

Internet does the same. It makes you keep in touch with your friends in a very resourceful way. Only if you do not use this, you will look like a loser who failed to keep in touch with his pals even though he had all the efficient technologies. You said you miss so many simple things in life. Dude, I don’t think you mean them really. If you really do, you would have gone for it – it’s an instinct.Try changing your attitude towards the technology. You are not doing anything wrong. You are not painfully addicted to anything. Never again say “Ok I should stop this. I’m not going online tomorrow”.

I hope I’ve given a different and a good perspective to your problem and helped you a little. Still if you think you are, as u said, a frustrated addict (OMG!!! What an expression!!!), do not worry. You are into all this only because you have way too much free time. Once you get yourself occupied (man!! You are going to Infy!! You won’t even get time to breathe), you’ll get over this!

Technology started evolving right from the early monkeys (pre humans) started thinking. And it will evolve forever. No one can overlook it. All one can (honestly, one “should”) do is to get adapted to it. Technology is by no means a pain in the butt. All we need is a Revision.