Review on Book(Architecture & Modernity)

Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home. —Anna Quindlen

So, I was lying around fiddling with my phone when I received a call, an old friend who needed help. All I had to do was to read a book... Drum Rolls... baa...dum..tush... AND GET PAID! Do your favorite job reading and writing and get paid. Yes, writing didn't I mention about writing review, nevermind. It was amazing. My day was sorted, but there was a problem, I had never really written a book review and this book was a course book not the simple novel or story-books that I read, but who says no to a job?

A free PDF here ;)

So I thought of posting it on my blog, it may help if not many then some. :/

The Book: Architecture & Modernity(BUY:Amazon)

Architecture and Modernity is a book that bridges the gap between history & theories of twentieth century architecture and Cultural theories of modernity. The author Hilde Heynen is more of a architecture critique that takes past architectural exhibition from the real world and implements by citing out the positive discriminating from what could be negative for the modern era. The writer here assesses architecture as cultural fields of daily life inheriting modernity. What I felt while reading was more like, it was just defining modernity rather than explaining it. It is the duty of author to explain not just define but plot the differences between two subsequent meanings.

The author sights examples from past, late past as she talks about civilizations and it's concept on time ie. Present and future. She quite agrees to Octavio Paz and even I do so. His work is ideal and still matches this era. The writer moves to explain modernization, modernity and modernism with just the definition cited by others without giving any examples. This quite confuses me a lot as the choice of words and vocabulary seems limited. Talking about vocabulary, I'd like to state that this book talks about modernity yet chooses to use words that cease to be used long back. Ofcourse the words are not totally impossible to comprehend but if students are concerned, it lacks proper use of words. Moving on the writer has handpicked some noble piece of concepts that are not just written but also presented as projects or speech in cultural discussion.

Further reading the book in concepts of Modernity, the book cites nature of relationship of aesthetic modernity with bourgeois modernity of capitalized civilization. It also includes pastoral and counter pastoral views. "Dwelling" is yet another term used profoundly attached with architecture. Not just associated with architecture also with cultural living,she explains book of Heidegger "Building. Dwelling. Thinking" Architecture and Modernity also has a visual journey apart from historical records to amuse the readers and take notes of historic builds.It even explains a few images in brief to get the direction into which the author is moving. The book is seen to jump to Architecture from Modernity and later shows minimal relations between the two.An understanding of the context of some of the theories of writers like Walter Benjamin and Sigfried Giedion, for example, is either assumed or not made overly clear at points, but the book would have probably doubled in size if Heynen tried to accommodate that ;) Broad range of works explored with lots of images to support, making some quite complex theories much more accessible. Very useful text for a students trying to get their head around the incredibly broad subject of modernity.

To conclude, I will say her writing is quite assessable, clear and interesting. It's a positive discourse of critical theory and very helpful overview of principal position in critical arguments over modernity. This was my first public review on an academic book, please don't judge me :P I may do more reviews but for sure just novels and story-books!

Recovering Phone(Pt.2)

The phone was still flashing the Mi Icon in the Boot Screen and repeatedly switched off and on on it's own. I tried switching off manually using the power button but in vain.😔

I had made huge mistakes, blunders all this time. My planning was perfect but implementation went wrong out of hurry.

My mistakes:

• The most important, I forgot to backup my data in TWRP recovery mode.
• I forgot to transfer alternate Oreo ROM to my phone's memory.
• I used TWRP from Y.T tutorial which was ages old incompatible with the new Android Pie.
• After the failed status, once again I wiped my data.
• Minor one:The GApps I installed was not compatible.

After realizing my first 3 mistakes, I started searching for solutions online. Most of them referred to remove battery which was vague since mine was non-replacable.Moreover, I can't risk waiting to discharge from 80% using the bootloop which I wasn't sure what was happening. Further searching resulted in chance of bricking my phone that means permanently damaged. It's no use other than just a brick. Fortunately mine was stuck in bootloop😅. I was disappointed, nervous and frightened at the same time. I tried switching between the power and volume keys. Read how booting works in phones and then it struck my mind.

I can use command prompt to go to fastboot recovery. But I need to spark. I tried

connecting while the phone boots up, waited for it to switch off and between that fraction of minutes until it rebooted I connected my phone to PC via USB through ADB network. It read the phone as it started but as an unrecognizable device. This was the flash in darkness. Soon it booted again only to show MI screen, and this time I had Cmd open, I typed the Linux Command in ADB to fastboot recovery and voila I was there. ADB network

helped me, ASAP I downloaded the latest TWRP and installed it on my phone through commands. I searched for most stable ROM online and GApps(most compatible) ones, I can't risk once more. Using the Cmd I installed and booted to recovery mode,wiped the data transferred the ROM and this time stock ROM as well(Backup duh!) Flashed the ROM using Command Prompt and again it took time. Voilaaa, the ROM flashed and GApps installed to success.

Finally I booted my Phone, fingers crossed and came up a nice graphics of chips(AOSPExtended), just stock apps and nothing else!

Nothing can be more content than giving your almost dead phone a new life(ROM).

Faster phone more Memory space,maximum customization, improved physics security, minimal apps and most important NO ads.

How I bricked my Phone and then recovered it[Pt.1]

One fine day, nah actually it was night time, I decided to root my phone just out of curiosity. What motivated me was persistent ads and annoying notification of system apps. It was my new phone less than an year and still in warranty. I knew Xiaomi's warranty doesn't void after rooting. I did my research and found that the only problem that could arise if I bricked my phone. I was just too excited to notice this and rushed to YouTube videos. "Smartphone 2torials"

bring the top result for my phone model was the first video. It made it seem pretty too easy and simple. The video didn't guide me through the unlocking boatloader but everything else. It took me an hour to go through 'How to unlock Bootloader'. Another problem knocked my door but everytime, it hid when I tried to track who, pardon what.

The unlocking was simple: Bound device; wait for 3-4 days(some said upto 7days); install Mi Unlocker in computer; sign in and start unlocking connecting your phone. I did the same and foolishly waited for 3 days. I was restless and there was no other option. Yep, foolishly, yes it was stupid of me, nothing happened. I had to bound with the same account with which I logged in my phone and PC and then unlock bootloader. I had two accounts signed in![facepalm]

I logged out of all accounts, logged in once again using phone no, double checked my account ID, logged as *same account* in PC and started the procedure. It was now that I received the notification of 72hrs.[ Phew!] This time I got jittery, set up my countdown and checked every other minute. Impatient to next Level.

It was time again, I had everything handy, the YouTube's tutorial, the files that it offered me and battery charged. There was a slight manipulation, instead of the stock ROM that video showed me I wanted to try Android PIE, it was trending, who can refrain from trends? I had Oreo ROM as well incase former was unstable, soon it was time and I was hella excited, I swoop connected my phone and started unlocking 50%-60%-70%-80%-90%-99%... DONE!!!

Woah! Finally I booted my phone and it showed unlocked, hurriedly I packed my packages like TWRP from tutorial and the Android Pie ROM from XDA site. Connected and transferred the files, Footbooted using power keys into recovery mode. Watched the tutorial again this time briskly, I wiped the data as the video said and paused the video for full attention and flashed my Android Pie. It took a lot of time about 5-7mins only to show the status "FAILED". Alas! As a result the phone went into bootloop and I went into state of shock! 

Death

History is comprised of Dead men writing morse code on the longest line of cocaine.

Dead men who threw Rolling Stones hoping they'll gather moss so the next dead man doesn't die alone.

Where are the women? Dead. Death doesn't discriminate.

Why are they dead? Because they were once alive, Death is never late.

What about the living? They lie in graves since life is just a bait.

Death isn't always the answer, yet we earn for the satisfaction it brings.

The alive know only questions; lies are what we sing.

Facts that change without user interaction.

Pillar of Questions being just a Fraction.

Born in acceptance, death in obedience.

Many live awaiting death.

No need to question a timeline's redundant.

A challenge so daunting, billions weep on pedastals built by dead ancestors.

And who knows,

by the time you've finished reading this,

I may just be another dead, looking upon you from Heaven's Bed.

HTML Vs. HTML5

"Never say No to a job, if you don't know how to do it, learn the skill how to do it, learn it and then complete the task"

This is the way I started to learn things not being confined to just one subject but exploring and experiment myself wherever I may fit. Of course, there are exceptions to it and learning to say "NO" too requires courage.

 So right now, I've started to learn Web Development. It's amazing and exploring what all can I do, I'll say it's limitless. It's something that you'll require whatever field you're in. Since the advancement of Internet the web is a great market place to socialize and advertise since Audience is something that every Business Requires.

------------------NOW---------------SOME------------GEEK------------------STUFF-----------------------

                                             When you're learning web Development the first thing they'll tell you is HTML. HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. HTML describes the structure of web Pages using Markup. Now you may think what is Markup Language?
It's just the marking up of the paper manuscripts so that it is distinguishable, generally tags. Sorta
bla bla

Now let's take a look at the HTML Timeline

HTML5 is the 5th Version of HTML standards. HTML has evolved immensely but the previous version, HTML4 was introduced about 15yrs ago. Thus HTML5 was much awaited as the advancement in smart-phones, tablets and other devices.
Let's look at the main differences:

• HTML5 uses SQL Data Base whereas in HTML browser cache can be utilized for storing purpose.
• SVG, Canvas and other graphics are supported in HTML5 whereas HTML has vector graphics.
• HTML runs in Browser interface threads, that is using multi processor as a faster experience while HTML5 supports JavaScript to run in background.

Whowins??? HTML or HTML5???

No doubt HTML has an upper hand in compatibility and has less glitches & Error, but here the future is bright for HTML5.

• HTML5 does not rely of any other thread party to display either audio or video. Just the tags would do it. The interactive medias are Visually enhanced.
• No more cookies, thanks to local storage.Since there is a temporary with Web SQL database no more cache are used . This could be accessed wherever desired using global window namesake.
• HTML5 enhanced the web application features. This was a major benefit for the web developers and thus gave more control.
• Improved Mobile Support making mobile web easier.

There's a bright Future waiting for further development and advancing + enhancing of web experience and HTML5 is a path that provides a positivity to moving ahead.

What brought me back to Blogging?

“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing.”

― August Wilson

So I'm back to blogging, and it's been 4 whole years since I left. One might be thinking why am I doing all of this again. What suddenly got into me and I started this blogging again. Certainly I do have reason for that, and yes there's not just one. I don't know how many , maybe that I'll leave up to the writing content, how many can I think of. The most important of all, and the one that comes first to my mind is self Analyzing. Everyone needs to analyze themselves. We all are mature enough to appreciate or criticize others so why not ourselves. Start from what you think of yourselves. I remember walking past a cafè and reading this outside.

"Would you like you, if you met you?"

Indeed people do talk to themselves, everyone does, not that loud mumbling but in mind, but if not one must start doing it. Ever since I wrote my last 2014 post probably everything has changed or maybe I think so. I keep that to share later but more importantly I stopped retrospecting. I won't totally blame myself to eventually stopping all at once, come'on, who does that kinda blamming in todays world. Parts of blame would be taken by the busy schedule, new work environment, new friends and the hefty task of typing everything. But the void remained in the initial days were first filled by writing in diary, textbooks, notes which gradually declined to "Nothing was special today, I'll sum this week's... month's,... year's... in one post/article.

Writing blogs certainly helped me in many ways. First of all I poured my heart out to writing. whatever I felt like, I wrote to the open audience since there is no one personnel I'd told to about this blog. Secondly blogging immensely improved my English and typing skills. And as I said before I can talk  to myself. Moreover, I can actually include this as a productive hobby and this can boost my exposure to different fields.

 That's all for today, not that I  was paid to speak up of blogging, you can do it privately or just write up, I needed a motivation and the views somewhere worked as a way. Not to forget that I even get a space for writing junks which I hope I would cherish when I grow old. I'm crazy or freak you can say that!

“Why don’t Indian Muslims rise against India?"

A few days back I came across a question that said “Why don’t Indian Muslims rise against India?”

Well, the question left me gazing at it for a long time. I found it quite ironic how the question mentions Muslims of our country as “INDIAN muslims” and still expects them to rise against India.

Being a Muslim myself I tried my level best to recall at least one incident in the last 20 years that might have led me to even THINK of rising against India. I was quite relieved by the fact that my brain couldnt return a single output to that.

But as the question was asked, I needed to force myself hard enough to come up with something suitable and so I did.

I started asking questions to myself as to what should I actually rise against in India? What’s so cruel for Indian Muslims that may lead them to take such a step?

Are you also an extremist or something who wishes to divide this nation? So tell me against what do you think should the Indian Muslims rise?

• Against the respect and dignity with which they all have been living here?
• Or against the unbiased platform they get in every field?
• Against their best friends who have become more of a family to them?
• Or against their neighbours with whom they celebrate the colours of Holi and share the sweets of Eid-ul-Fitr?
• Against the benefits they are offered just because they’re a minority?
• Or agianst the riots that shut the eyes of thousands of innocents in which Muslims equally particiapted?
• Against the fact that they get a subsidy to go for Haj but no such subsidy is offered to people of other religion?
• Or against their Prime Minister who has in no way done any partiality against them? (Political views are not welcome)
• Against the set of so many amazing people here?
• Or against this incredibly beautiful country?

Not for anything will I ever rise against India. I wont find a reason big enough no matter how hard I try. Even if I do find one, I know exactly how to respond rather than react and so I’ll try to bring down the situation back to normal instead of adding up to the fire that is already being fuelled by hundreds of idiotic extremists

**I know I sound like a big deshbhakt(patriot), well, I actually have enough of it within me to be showed on days other than 15th August and 26th January**