Technology and Life

10 things about leading

2011-07-02T15:49:00.000+03:00

Reflecting on my first year in my new role as a Teacher, here’s just a little of what I have learned.

1. Vision. Don’t just focus on the bricks. See the cathedral.

2. Courage. Don’t be limited by your job description. Make a difference in any way you can.

3. Creativity. Think in new ways. Experiment with different ideas. Innovate.

4. Resilience. Rise above disappointments, complaints and people who work against you.

4. Empathy. Remember that everyone has a story. Be patient. Avoid talking to people when you haven’t had enough sleep.

5. Reflection. Admit when you are wrong and apologize. Occasionally apologizing when you weren’t wrong might be helpful too.

6. Collaboration. The power of a helpful, inspirational, global PLN is immeasurable. A trusted in-school PLN is even more valuable.

7. Communication: Talk. Explain. Ask. Listen. You can achieve a great deal via one conversation at a time.

8. Initiative. If you have an idea, run with it. Don’t wait for a better time, particular conditions or permission to try.

9. Persistence. If you believe in something, fight for it, negotiate for it, pay for it, work for it.

10. Humility. Ask for help. Consult. Get advice. If something is worthwhile, you don’t need your name on it. It’s not about who gets the credit.

Alone in New York

2010-09-29T11:50:00.000+02:00

New York City.. Mark Twain called it “a splendid desert - a domed and steepled solitude, where the stranger is lonely in the midst of a million of his race.”

Manhattan is the capital of people living by themselves. But are New Yorkers lonelier ?

Most Amazing Video

2010-01-14T15:48:00.000+02:00

If this video doesn't bring a tear to your eyes and makes you smile for the rest of the day, you are a cold hearted person. Watch it from beginning to end—you won't regret it.

5 things not to-do even before dying

2009-10-18T19:40:00.020+02:00

There's a joke about a guy that his Doctor told him: “You have 6 months to live”, so the guy said: “O:K, but I don’t have money to pay you for the visit”, so the Doctor told him: “So, you have another 6 months”.

Death is a natural process of the living cycle, so why many afraid of it ? If your Doctor will tell you that you have some amount of time to live, how would you spend it?

There are though, 5 things that you should avoid doing, even in your last days.

Experience the Sharks-Cage Sport

Extreme Base Jumping

Hugs with Lions

Tourism in Iraq

Joining a nervous crowd in Iran and saying “Muhammad was a..”

Have an idea to add, share with us.

25 Tips to be happy

2009-10-15T18:47:00.002+02:00

Happiness is a state-of-mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. We all live with the goal of being happy, What everyone wants from life is continuous and genuine happiness.

So, how can we achieve happiness ?

I wrote down some Tips that help me and my family/friends at some periods of our life.

It’s A two hours of fascinating-journey that will make you think different. (promise) Take it step-by-step.

As a preface, Watch Dan Gilbert's talk - Why are we happy?

Use positive words to keep you optimistic and upbeat. Positive words create positive emotions. The words you use influence the way you think, feel and behave.
Failure is acceptable when you have the discipline to go back and review the history of an innovative endeavor, and learn as much as possible from it.
Don't worry. The more you worry, the weaker you will become and the more you will begin to doubt your future. This is why pats are so happy, they don't think.
Stop thinking that Money Can Buy You Happiness. If you reading this, you are on the 'wealthy' part of the world. At the major part of the world - Africa, China, India, South America - people are less 'wealthy'. Does that fact makes you happy? Does more money will make you happy? the answer is NO!
Watch Randy Pausch (of blessed memory) Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.

Remove all the hate and frustration out of your heart to a paper. Write down your frustrations in detail allowing yourself to get angry and upset. Once you have brought what changes you want to make out into the open, you'll find the confidence to deal with these issues in the most positive and productive way.
Help others. Helping people is a wonderful social act, but it is also practical. There are plenty of ways to help people, and by doing so, you receive a bonus - and help yourself.
Watch Jill Bolte Taylor's Talk about - stroke of insight.

Manufacture happiness. Happy people are productive, adjusted, and successful. They resist negative vibes. They are infectious and pleasant to be around.
Instantly Build Self Confidence. Be assertive - interact with people while standing up for your rights.
Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered. Compliment other people. Gratitude. Focus on contribution.
Always speak highly of yourself to others. You're a fantastic individual.
Ask yourself what success means to you. When you understand what success means to you personally you can then begin to take action in achieving what you want from life.
Find something to laugh about everyday. If you don't have anything in your life that is funny, think about a funny joke, watch a funny video on youtube\funny TV show. Try:

Congressman's Son Won't Shut The Hell Up During Hearing

Decrease viewing news and reading newspapers. Play music that you like.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself near your favorite place in the world.
Spend quality time searching yourself for all the greatness and good inside of you. Think highly of yourself and always see yourself in a positive light. You are a strong, loving caring and unique individual. Be proud of who you are.
Act, don’t plan. actions will move you forward. 'A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.' ~George S. Patton
Constantly ask yourself what do you really want from your life? By thinking about what you want, you can be sure in the fact that you're building a solid foundation for the future.
Spend time with people you like. Good people seem to have good ideas. They share more and I learn more from them. Medical researchers found that happiness is catching.
Watch some funny photos:

Find the bright side. As a result, you may find your true beliefs, and your mind may be more peaceful and harmonious.
Start Now! Want to make positive change in your Life? Start it now. Putting it off just gives you time to make excuses.
Start small. taking huge steps at the beginning could despair you. start with: Drink a lot of water. Eat Light food. Sleep enough. meditate.
Make it happen by taking positive action everyday. Save a life, adopt a homeless animal from a rescue group or shelter. give some charity. smile to strangers. Love yourself.

5 wishes from twitter

2009-10-13T10:54:00.001+02:00

The ‘twitter-phenomena’ is well known and documented. how it came into our lives like a storm, and how fun is it to play with.

So, how all of that started? apparently, it was some kind of joke between friends that started the all idea. that joke was followed by a first-class professional management which made that idea to rise. A super-friendly API, great marketing and a professional staff that knows the start-up work well, made that funny idea to become a 1 billion dollar worth. (and growing)

So, is it the ‘best idea of the last years’ or the ‘best management of the last years’ ?

I think It’s both, since only one could not make a billion $ company without the other.

What we would like to see from twitter in the future ?

A professional search engine that will give good results. we all need some alternative to google. my personal choice after google is delicious search. Another option that will stand for itself could be great. Something new, Refreshing, that will Talk to the masses..
More features on the website. features like sharing photo’s, live video’s directly from the site. twitter guys should know what the public like. creating Lists of friends could be great (TweetDeck’s great feature), more statistics for any user, something like google-analytics for twitter account. Allowing third party apps integration into the site.
An option for the users to make money from twitter, some kind of AdSense for twitter could be a killer feature.
Sophisticated tools for business users, tools that will help to promote any business.
A creative-spirit based new ideas, new stuff to play with, like any startup can allow itself to carry out. sharing options, widgets.. something like the google wave spirit. the users don’t want another big elephant (M$) that scared to make any move, people like a dynamic and bold service. Take more risks and reinvent the web. be a leader not a follower. dream big and change the world. A first-class professional management brought you to this place. now, give the 20-years-old to direct you to new heights.

Using gmail inside C# app

2009-10-09T17:52:00.059+02:00

Sending Email from a C# application using Gmail account could not be easier. All It takes is writing few lines of code, and the magic appears, like in many C# implementations.

add ‘using System.Net.Mail;’
copy the code below (better - wrap it with a function), and change the relevant parameters. (username,password..)

Enjoy !

If you have any comment\improvement – drop me a line at the bottom.

class SendWithGmail    {        static void Main(string[] args)        {            MailMessage mail = new MailMessage();                         mail.To.Add("DestinationUser@gmail.com");            mail.To.Add("DestinationUser@yahoo.com");                         mail.From = new MailAddress("SourceUser@gmail.com");             mail.Subject = "Email using Gmail";             string Body = "Hi, this mail is to test sending mail";                         mail.Body = Body;             mail.IsBodyHtml = true;                        SmtpClient smtp = new SmtpClient();             smtp.Host = "smtp.gmail.com";             smtp.Port = 587;             smtp.Credentials = new System.Net.NetworkCredential                           ("SourceUser@gmail.com", "SourceUserPassword");            smtp.EnableSsl = true;             smtp.Send(mail);        }    }

The secrets behind men's public restrooms

2009-10-08T16:45:00.006+02:00

Everyone that need to use a public restroom in a new place knows the feeling. Why men’s restrooms got our attention? Is it our natural embarrassment in the context of our penis? After all, Its a public place..

Psychology point of view: one of the human-race’s consciousness side-effect, is the men’s relationship with their penis.

So said Zigmund-Freud and other smart people. In our life-time that founds expression in the using of a public restroom.
We know that animals (without consciousness) don’t have this problems.

It turns out that men all over the world share the same embarrassment.

Globalization point of view: Some people judge a new place by the standards of Its restroom. That is a globalization side-effect. People are traveling more and while travelling they see different places with different styles of restrooms.

I guess in a previous century, men saw less and knew less.

So, the outcome is that men in the 21 century have a Sharp and Solid point of view about public restrooms.

Sociology point of view: There are though, some Tips that a newbie in our world (teen, alien..) should take care of, In regard to some sociology side-effects:

Always make that ‘hand washing ceremony’. be sure that washing your hands without soap has no real value. but Its a standard ceremony, especially if you are at work. meeting co-workers.
Its polite to Introduce yourself to the guy at the next. even only with a smile.
Don't look at your neighbor's penis, including a glance. Its embarrassing. If you’ll make a glance, be sure that the guy will know that you looked at his precious thing.
Try to avoid peeing on your neighbor shoe.
You should avoid Whispering.

How do you define 'Stupid' ?

2009-09-28T17:54:00.210+02:00

I came across this web-page that shows people with tattoo on their forehead and I was thinking, does those people are stupid? how can we define 'Stupid'? what is a Stupid person and according to which parameters we can catalog a person to be one.

I guess this question has been bothered by everyone of us at some point of our life. According to 'thefreedictionary.com' - stupid defined as: (1) Slow to learn or understand; obtuse. (2) Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes. (3) Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake. (4) Dazed, stunned, or stupefied. (5) Pointless; worthless: a stupid job.
Does one of those definitions fits to yours prejudice ?
I guess I can proof you the opposite.

Each one of those definition, is 'comparing to..', comparing to some social-acceptation that one can observe in his 'view of life', which depends on the one's genetics and the environment of growing-up.
So, the same person, growing-up in 2 different places could view life different and the outcome would be his different definition to 'Stupid'.

People under pressure behave differently, so an observer may think those for Stupid. Does a person that don't have food to eat and receive a life-time opportunity to earn 10,000$ on behalf of tattooing his forehead with some text, could consider 'Stupid'? I guess for many of us Yes, but for the person that desire to continue living (which requires feeding) the answer is No, since Its a surviving necessity.

What about This woman which paid $10,000 to get this tattoo on her head. She said she did it, so she could put her kids through school. (link)
Does most of us will consider her stupid ? Does that determines that she is stupid ? Does she cares ?

Does a mentally-ill person should be considered as a stupid just because he behaves different from what we used to, on behalf of his illness ?
What do you think, Is It simple to define 'Stupid' as all of the Dictionaries Does ?

So, who am I ?

2009-09-27T15:40:00.021+02:00

So, who am I ?
My name is Ronnen Nagal. This is a tricky question to answer as I’m not always entirely sure who I am from one moment to the next. In fact, all I’m certain of is that I’m not quite the same person as I was when I first arrived to this world.

Basically, I’m a Technology & Gadgets guru. I love to read and write about all of the new exciting progression in the global Tech Industry. Its a real joy for me. I have a degree in Math & CS, so I guess I’m sort of a geek in my Peaceful Soul. I’m a person of people, with many friends around me all the time. what would they say about me… ?

Some people would tell you, he’s got issues, mental, lazy, mean, coldblooded, stuck-up, dumb, slutty, acts just like a girl, blah, blah, blah, and more blah.

People who actually know me would tell you, he’s wonderful, kind, caring, bright, compassionate, got a weird sense of humor but he is basically fun to be around, sometimes goofy, sometimes clumsy, most of the time dizzy, need I say more….

I’m just an average person with a not so average outlook on life.
PS: I have a high tolerance for idiots as well.
I guess that’s why I can tolerate a lot of people.

Some of My Interests:
Learning. Teaching. Living. Laughing. Loving.
hangin’ around with friends.
I Love sitting in my friends apartment catching up on the week(s) drinking wine, and eating take-out. I Love going out to brunch with friends.

Log4Net

2009-09-25T21:05:00.048+03:00

log4net is a great tool for creating Log file. (apache product)
After a short research, I understood how to use that tool for a simple writing-logs task.
Basic steps for using described here, and can be execute in a few minutes.
(there is a small project at the end, so you don't have to 'bother' and implement the steps)

How To Use:

First, You will need the dll file (260 kb).
You can download it from here, or you can find it inside my attached project. (link at the bottom)

Put that dll file in a place that will be easy to reference to.
Add a Reference to that dll from your project.

Add the following code to the Assembly.cs file.

// Configure log4net using the .config file
[assembly: log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator(Watch = true)]
// This will cause log4net to look for a configuration file
// called TestApp.exe.config in the application base
// directory (i.e. the directory containing TestApp.exe)
// The config file will be watched for changes.

In the app.config file:
Inside the 'configSections' tag,
Add a new section-line using 'log4net' name:

<configSections>
    <section name="log4net" 
                type="log4net.Config.Log4NetConfigurationSectionHandler, log4net" />
</configSections>

Add a new section ("log4net") to the same app.config file (Sibling to 'configSections')

<log4net>
    <appender name="FileAppender" type="log4net.Appender.FileAppender">
      <file value="C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Desktop\Logfile.log" />
      <appendToFile value="true" />
      <layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">
        <conversionPattern value=
                       "%date [%thread] %-5level %logger [%property{NDC}] - %message%newline" />
      </layout>
    </appender>
    <root>
      <level value="DEBUG" />
      <appender-ref ref="FileAppender" />
    </root>
</log4net>

In the class:
Add using log4net;

Define a static logger variable at the top of your class.
Something like this:

private static readonly ILog log = LogManager.GetLogger(typeof(Program));
(Here 'Program' is the class name)

Start using the logger in your class, Enjoy !

My Test class is:

class Program
    {
        // A static logger variable that will reference the class name ('Program')
        private static readonly ILog log = LogManager.GetLogger(typeof(Program));
        
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            log.Info("Entering application.");

            for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
            {
                log.DebugFormat("In The loop   (i = {0})", i);
                log.ErrorFormat("Error message (i = {0})", i);
                log.FatalFormat("Fatal message (i = {0})", i);
                log.WarnFormat("Warn message  (i = {0})", i);
            }

            log.Info("Exiting application.");
        }
    }

The output is:

2009-11-04 09:36:46,078 [10] INFO Program [(null)] - Entering application.
2009-11-04 09:36:46,125 [10] DEBUG Program [(null)] - In The loop (i = 0)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] ERROR Program [(null)] - Error message (i = 0)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] FATAL Program [(null)] - Fatal message (i = 0)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] WARN Program [(null)] - Warn message (i = 0)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] DEBUG Program [(null)] - In The loop (i = 1)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] ERROR Program [(null)] - Error message (i = 1)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] FATAL Program [(null)] - Fatal message (i = 1)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] WARN Program [(null)] - Warn message (i = 1)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] DEBUG Program [(null)] - In The loop (i = 2)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] ERROR Program [(null)] - Error message (i = 2)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] FATAL Program [(null)] - Fatal message (i = 2)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] WARN Program [(null)] - Warn message (i = 2)
2009-11-04 09:36:46,140 [10] INFO Program [(null)] - Exiting application.

Download

Google Translator

2009-09-15T18:19:00.012+03:00

Today I had a great time discovering the Google-Translate-API and how easy it is for using. (those google guys are amazing)

Using that API, I wrote down a small C# app that translates text from English to Hebrew and vice versa.
The source can be used for your own purpose as well.

The studying process of C# and the Tech world is amazing,
I'm having great time on each step of the way. .

Merge Sort

2009-08-16T17:29:00.067+03:00

Sorting is a common activity in the programming work.
Merge-Sort is one of the best implementation for Sorting,
Since Its running on O(nlogn) - which is the best run-time available for Sorting.
On one of my projects I had a requirement to sort Objects.
After a short research, I decided to write a Generic Merge-Sort Class that will work for me.
During the work, I found few major points that should be considered while using that Generic Class for Sorting. (publication)

Preface

Merge Sort (pseudo-code in the picture) is a recursive algorithm, that Split an Array of the Objects to 2 sub Arrays - A,B (which initialize to infinite values), Sort this 2 sub-Arrays and finally merge them. (Therefore, 'merge' sort)

Using

For using the Generic Merge Sort, you should (probably) know what is the objects parameter that the objects will be sorted by.
Now, Since the 2 sub-Arrays should be initialized with an infinite value, You should use the default-ctor to make that initialization.

Example

For sorting an Array of 'Persons' Objects that will be sorted according to their ID number (from low to high), you should declare infinite ID-number (infinite int32 value) in the default-ctor.
(I know This is not an elegant implementation, but In that case there is no alternative.)

Points for attention

When writing a class for using Generic Merge Sort, you should implement the 'IComparable' interface since the code using the 'CompareTo' function - to compare objects.
You should also write your own 'overloading operators' that will be in use to compare objects: ==, !=, >, >=, <, <= plus 'Equals' and 'GetHashCode'. Please notice that 'GetHashCode' will be in use by the CLR implicitly - so you must write your own implementation that will return the same value for the same object.

class MergeSort    {        /// <summary>        /// Sorts an array of Objects        /// IComparable - use 'CompareTo' to compare objects        /// where T : new() - need to create a new Type 'T' object inside the method        /// </summary>        /// <param name="X"></param>        public static T[] Merge_Sort<T>(T[] X) where T : IComparable, new()        {            int n = X.Length;            X = MegrgeSort_Internal(X, n);            return X;        }        /// <summary>        /// Internal method for sorting        /// </summary>        /// <param name="X"></param>        /// <param name="n"></param>        private static T[] MegrgeSort_Internal<T>(T[] X, int n) where T : IComparable, new()         {            // Define 2 aid Sub-Arrays            T[] A = new T[(n / 2) + 2];            T[] B = new T[(n / 2) + 2];            // Initialize the 2 Sub-Arrays with an infinite 'sorting parameter'            // Therefor, You must include a default ctor in your class            // which will initialize an infinite value - To the sorting parameter            // using 'where T : new()' here            for (int i = 0; i < A.Length; i++)            {                A[i] = new T(); ;                B[i] = new T();            }            // Recursive Stop-Condition, Sorting a Basic Array (Size 2)            if (n == 2)            {                int CompareValue = X[0].CompareTo(X[1]);                if (CompareValue > 0)                {                    T tempT = X[0];                    X[0]    = X[1];                    X[1]    = tempT;                }            }            else            {                // The Sub-Arrays Size is Large than 2                if (n > 2)                {                    int m = n / 2;                    // Initialize the 2 Sub-Arrays (The first relevant values)                    for (int i = 0; i < m; i = i + 1)                    {                        A[i] = X[i];                    }                    for (int j = m; j < n; j++)                    {                        B[j - m] = X[j];                    }                    // 2 Recursive Calling, Sorting Sub-Arrays                    A = MegrgeSort_Internal(A, m);                    B = MegrgeSort_Internal(B, n - m);                    // Merging the Sorted Sub-Arrays into the main Array                    int p = 0;                    int q = 0;                    for (int k = 0; k < n; k++)                    {                        {                            int CompareValure = A[p].CompareTo(B[q]);                            if (CompareValure == 0 ||                                CompareValure == -1)                            {                                X[k] = A[p];                                p = p + 1;                            }                            else                            {                                X[k] = B[q];                                q = q + 1;                            }                        }                    }                } // if            } // else            return X;        }    }

2 project attached:

A simple (int32) Implementation, that Sorts an Array of Integers
A Generic Merge Sort, Plus a simple 'Person' class that will demonstrate the using of the Generic code

Simple Merge Sort Download
Generic Merge Sort Download

Password Generator

2009-08-16T17:13:00.009+03:00

CSince I'm not satisfied with all of the available 'Password-Generators', I decided t write one of my own. (in C#)

Its a Simple Password Generator that can
Generate a Password of any length.

You can download it at: Link

Regular Expressions Summary

2009-08-15T21:55:00.018+03:00

Regular expressions are a language of their own. When you learn a new programming language, they're this little sub-language that makes no sense at first glance. Many times you have to read another tutorial, article, or book just to understand the "simple" pattern described.
In computing, regular expressions provide a concise and flexible means for identifying strings of text of interest, such as particular characters, words, or patterns of characters.

Here are some of the most useful Regular expressions Patterns.

Username

Pattern:

/^[a-z0-9_-]{3,16}$/

Description:

We begin by telling the parser to find the beginning of the string (^), followed by any lowercase letter (a-z), number (0-9), an underscore, or a hyphen. Next, {3,16} makes sure that are at least 3 of those characters, but no more than 16. Finally, we want the end of the string ($).

String that matches:

my-us3r_n4m3

String that doesn't match:

th1s1s-wayt00_l0ngt0beausername (too long)

Password

Pattern:

/^[a-z0-9_-]{6,18}$/

Description:

Matching a password is very similar to matching a username. The only difference is that instead of 3 to 16 letters, numbers, underscores, or hyphens, we want 6 to 18 of them ({6,18}).

String that matches:

myp4ssw0rd

String that doesn't match:

mypa$$w0rd (contains a dollar sign)

Pattern:

/^([a-z0-9_\.-]+)@([\da-z\.-]+)\.([a-z\.]{2,6})$/

Description:

We begin by telling the parser to find the beginning of the string (^). Inside the first group, we match one or more lowercase letters, numbers, underscores, dots, or hyphens. I have escaped the dot because a non-escaped dot means any character. Directly after that, there must be an at sign. Next is the domain name which must be: one or more lowercase letters, numbers, underscores, dots, or hyphens. Then another (escaped) dot, with the extension being two to six letters or dots. I have 2 to 6 because of the country specific TLD's (.ny.us or .co.uk). Finally, we want the end of the string ($).

String that matches:

john@doe.com

String that doesn't match:

john@doe.something (TLD is too long)

Iran? Iraq? what the hell..

2007-05-21T08:29:00.000+03:00

Does someone can explain what is going on in this world?

From my point of view, there is a guy named 'USAMA' which make the world go crazy.

Smart guy once said: "Every body want to rule the world",
and for my opinion this is the main reason to all of that mess that is going-on in the world those days.

Now, add to that the interest forces that have a huge influence in Washington,
forces that make great money from the war,
with a republican on power, and you receive a war.

I think that this war should end soon as possible, the American tax-payer don't want to pay anymore for this war, and no-one want to see more bodies from Iraq.

There is no American victory in the future, so end that war!

2007-05-20T20:56:00.013+03:00

Hello, and welcome to my new blog!
I'm very pleased and exited to write this blog.

My name is Ronnen Nagal and I'm student to math and cs in BGU university, Israel.

Those days we have a strike in all of the universities here in Israel,
so I have a free time which I can use to learn how to write a blog.

This is my amazing DOG, named NIO: