shantopagla

http://www.banglaradio.org.au/BR-Archive-2007.htm
“This week’s program presented a light-hearted ‘onu-natika’ – Licence – about a driving lesson in Canberra. The voices were provided by Najmun Nahar Ratna and Lita Talukder and the script was written by Sadequr Rahman. The two songs played in the program ‘bajilo kaharo bina’ and ‘tufan mail’ were sung by the Bangladeshi singer Apala Farhad Naved. The program also presented an update about fund-raising activities in Canberra for the flood-affected people in Bangladesh. This week’s program was produced and presented by Sadequr Rahman.”

Apala Farhad Naved singing the song in a fund-raiser

Someone asked me this question about a position I held a while back of a Webmaster. Back then (and I mean about a decade ago) it was simple. A Webmaster had to know and understand HTML and be able to update (mostly) static pages with new or updated content. Experience with Images, Audio, Video, 3D, etc. was an added bonus. I was among the few ‘Webmasters’ of my time who actually knew Server Side programming, Database administration as well as some basic Scripting (JavaScript).

Now the times have changed to a point where a ‘Webmaster’ position has been further sub-divided into specific tasks. There now exists for the same Websites:

• a Designer (or an outsourced company for Theme design)
• an User Interface Developer whose primary task is to look beyond the pre-conceptions of the people within the company and develop an interface with the audience in mind.
• a Database Administrator to handle the organizational data as it relates internally as well as with the corporate Website
• a Developer with knowledge to integrate data, code and multimedia in a modular and extensible fashion
• a Front-End Developer with extensive CSS and JavaScript knowledge to work with UI Developer in developing a successful Website
• a Network Administrator to handle separation of internal/sensitive data with external/public data as well as maintain a threat-proof server environment
• a Multi-Platform Content Manager who handles electronic Newsletters, Blogs, Social Media and Website content, etc.
• an Information Technology administrator/architect to oversee all of the above, create strategies based on the organization and implement projects/parameters to accomplish established goals

Please let me know if I’ve missed something!

The next question asked was: ‘Do you think there exists such Webmasters now?’
Answer: Definitely. Though scarce, there exists people like us who are sometimes perceived as an asset – and sometimes perceived as people who hold ground in the Horizontal but not the Vertical.

It is no longer enough to simply have a Website – anyone can build one with any free tools available out there. Some industries go with Custom CMS (Content Management Systems) that manage their site content and has some additional features. These are usually industries with a lot of capitals and funds that can support custom development.  Others go the GPL (Gnu Public License) or Open-Source CMS solutions and integrate their products/services.

The advantages of an open-source system, in my opinion, outweighs the drawbacks (usually security issues that that can be circumvented). Over the last year, using Open-Source CMS like WordPress (it can be modeled and customized to mimic a CMS), I’ve been able to cater to several small businesses with relative ease. Items such as XML Sitemaps (required for Google Webmaster Tools), Site Statistics (Google Analytics), RSS Feeds (can be integrated with FeedBurner, or external Websites), Twitter, Facebook, Google iCal, Amazon/Amazon aStore, Google AdSense, etc. can be integrated literally within minutes.

The Theme development process has proven to be so permissive that I’ve been able to accommodate various design concepts into it.

With the right person on the helm, it is possible to raise one’s head above the ocean of Websites into the ‘Opt-In’ realm of Web 2.0 with relative ease. Unfortunately, only individuals with deep understanding of the new technologies, trends and RPC (Remote Procedure Call) – and how they all correlate to elevate Website ranking – will be able to comprehend the complexities of the current virtual realm. Users now tend to ‘elect’ how to interact with virtual content – COLD CALLS WILL NOT WORK!

It may be the most opportune time for any ambitious organization to restructure their executive branch with such pioneers of the future. Without such extensive breadth of scope, it is useless for anyone to have a Website anymore.

মাহমুদা খাতুন দীর্ঘ পঞ্চাশ বছর ধরে প্রচারমাধ্যমগুলোতে গান গেয়ে আসছেন ৷ ১৯৫৮ সনে সুগায়ক ভ্রাতা কাজী আনোয়ার হোসেনের প্রভাবে বেতারে আধুনিক গান দিয়ে যাত্রা শুরু করেন ৷ পরবর্তীতে সন্জীদা খাতুন ও ফাহমিদা খাতুনের অনুজা হিসেবে রবীন্দ্রসঙ্গীতে চর্চা সহজাত হয় ও বিশেষ আকর্ষণ করা যায় ৷ বেতার ও টিভিতে তিনি আজও রবীন্দ্রসঙ্গীতই গেয়ে আসছেন ৷

পুরোনো আধুনিক গানে তাঁর যথেষ্ট আগ্রহ থাকায় বেশ কিছু আধুনিক গান তিনি করে থাকেন ৷ তা থেকে “দোলা দিয়ে যায় কে?” সিডিটিতে মোট আটটি গান গেয়েছেন মাহমুদা ৷ এর আগে “এ কি সুগন্ধ হিল্লোল বহিল” ক্যাসেটে ও “বাজিলো কাহার বীণা সিডিতে রবীন্দ্রসঙ্গীত গেয়েছেন ৷ শিল্পীর পরিচয় তাঁর শিল্প সিদ্ধিতে ৷ রসিক জনের অনুধাবনের উদ্দেশ্শে নিবেদিত হলো “দোলা দিয়ে যায় কে?” সিডিটি ৷

সিডি প্রকাশে বিশেষ সহায়তা দিয়েছেন রবীন্দ্রসঙ্গীত শিল্পী মুজিবুল কাইয়ুম ৷ যন্ত্রানুসঙ্গে দৌলোতুর রহমান ৷

Senses deceive. We all know it, but never take it in it’s philosophical context. If ‘The Bible says God exists, therefore God exists’ can be dismissed by arguing that the Bible said the Earth is the center of the Universe, why should I not dismiss all sensory data?

My belief in One God has never been swayed. If ‘He Begetteth not and nor is He Begotten’ is true, we are ALL part of God. Thus created ‘in his image’ in Christianity. So what if religion is truly many roots leading to the same tree?

Going back to thought made me realize yet again how critical it is to look without senses once in a while. My experience, my path in life exist in all possible realities. Every decision every person makes creates alternate realities that all lead back to the same tree.

Starting point life; end-point death. To not live by ones values is to not live! Quoting Zapata again: ‘It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees.’ Does that not apply to everyday life?

What if thoughts are the only true instruments to find the true path in life? Applying all of my skills, knowledge, and ‘thought’ to weave together my own web of life that leads me back to One?

I am back to thought.

As I return united to One; my work – current and past – applies itself in its own path. There has never been a miracle or a tragedy. I can see clearly that this is the path back where everything I’ve done in life comes together.