We are on high alert...

Was traveling Indian Railways' marquee train - the Shatabdi Express when I saw this :-). Makes one wonder - where did the train get lost?

Ithaca...long time no see

Was browsing around, when the eyeballs hit a name that sounded very familiar. Ithaca. Yes, the one nice poem, that probably everyone has read.

Here it is, once more:

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)
http://users.hol.gr/~barbanis/cavafy/

Ah! Products and what not...

Did someone talk about perseverance paying off in the long-run (and laziness immediately)?

Here goes... just launched the first product from the Phonon stables - GoTalk. Like the name? Well even if you don't the application is still better - type in anything in English and what you get is a translation in any European language. All on your mobile phone :-). Cute ain't it..pphhrrtt! Will be cute only once it starts generating revenues.

Download it? Just the alpha version - send me an email info(at)phonon(dot)in.

Till more comes around,
shalom!