It introduces more problems than it solves.

It would violate some very fundamental laws of Physics. To give an example, the second law of thermodynamics. It states that the entropy (number of possible states a given thing can occupy) of an isolated system always increases with time.

It it wasn’t for this law, physical laws would work the same way regardless of the direction of time. In a sense, this law of thermodynamics acts like an arrow of time, for we can say that time has passed when we see entropy increasing.

It is possible to decrease entropy in localised regions, for example, humans are a product of decreased entropy, but the entropy of the whole Universe is always increasing.

What time travel would suggest is that entropy increases over a long period of time, but may not be satisfied in localised periods of time. Instead of entropy decreasing in a particular space at a...

I should be studying, but when passing time, writing has become the only thing I do that doesn’t feel inherently useless. Playing video games, watching soap operas on television (maybe with one or two exceptions) and simply whiling around seems like a complete waste of time – but not writing.

This actually makes me feel good. I feel like I’m in control of something, and that someone is going to read this. Even though there aren’t any comments on Svbtle by default, I can (with appreciable, though not so large, effort) put a link to the Disqus thread where you can comment.

I think Svbtle is better than Blogger in some ways, because all blogs look the same under Svbtle. Also, Blogger requires too much customisation, and even when all that is over, I’m restricted by the general theme of the blog.

For example, on Flat and white I can only write about inspirational, motivational...

Warning. This is a technical post.

We’ve all learnt about limits, but haven’t been formally introduced into it. The epsilon-delta definition is a standard formalisation of the concept of limits. I’ve seen our Maths teacher only use it once (and stop midway to try another way) in a limit that seemed unsolvable in any other way.

This goes into the very fundamentals of limits. It answers the basic question, “What is a limit?”

So now I’m going to quote Wikipedia below verbatim:

In calculus, the (ε, δ)-definition of limit is a formalisation of the notion of limit.

Let f(x) be a function defined on an open interval containing c (except possibly at c) and let L be a real number. Then we may make the statement

Lt_{x–>c} {f(x)} = L

if and only if:

If the value of x is within a specified δ units from c, this implies that f(x) is within a specified ε units from L.

Well, I know this just...

It’s always been true. I never disliked Science and Maths in my life. I always admired the accuracy and extent to which Science and Mathematics helps us not only describe, but predict the world.

It’s so fascinating, that the whole of Science and Maths is based on only a few rules, using which an elaborate and highly accurate framework can be drawn. And one of the most awesome things happening, is that these rules are getting fewer in number, as we discover more fundamental things about the Universe.

This is an exciting time, as we’re shifting from answering the question “how”, to answering the question “why”. In the past, much was unknown about how things worked. This improved dramatically over time, and now we’re at a stage at which we can begin to probe even deeper questions:

• Why does the Universe behave the way it does?
• Why is the Universe’s expansion accelerating?
• Why did the...

Looks like this blog is becoming all about revising for a test, but it’s only going to be for Computer Science.

So, there are several techniques in sorting an array. We’re going to be discussing only three in this post, though:

1. Bubble sort
2. Selection sort
3. Insertion sort

First, we’re doing to discuss the technique behind each sort, and then present the C++ corresponding to each sort.

Like in my previous post, all C++ will correspond to the compiler Turbo C++ 3.0, released in 1991-92.

In addition, I’ve written all code on the spot (without actually running it), so please read all code carefully for mistakes. Write code that you think is right, and if you think the above code is wrong, please contact me and tell me (so I can fix it), and under no condition should you copy any code that you’re, even if partially, sure is (even partially) wrong.

Now let’s get to business. All sorts...

I started this Svbtle thing in an effort to write. I’ve always been reading, but writing is a different ball game. It helps me apply those things I’ve learnt while reading to new scenarios.

This not only improves my English (literally), but also helps me form an opinion and justify it.

The small font used when creating a blog post helps me write more than I would’ve, had I been using a larger font. We’re used to filing a certain height in content before it becomes a burden. Fitting in more words in that height is the best way to start writing long-form.

I’ve even seen articles with a hundred thousand words written on one page on Medium. Medium’s algorithm predicts that it would take me half an hour to read that post.

Nobody has time for that kind of reading. Six to seven minutes tops the number of words in reading time that I’d like to aim for.

There’s no commenting on Svbtle. I...

It’s difficult only if you don’t know the right way.

And knowing the right way is difficult, so you can understand the difficulty.

It also depends on what you think learning means. If you think it means being able to recite information and learning facts by heart, then I’m afraid you’ve got the idea all wrong. What you’re trying to do is called memorising, and it’s one of the most pathetic substitutes for real learning.

Learning is difficult because we don’t know how we do it. One moment we’re barely in control and hardly get a hang of some new concept or skill, and a few months later, we’re in a position to help our juniors and compete with others. And the worst part is not knowing how this came to be.

It’s a secret, really, because if you knew how, then you could achieve this blissful state in a lesser time, and sometimes with lesser effort. Actually, the effort remains just the...

This will be my first technical post. I’m using this to revise for a test, but I’m sure the perspective of someone who’s new to this and is still learning will help others who’re just starting out.

Everything discussed in this post will be in the context of C++, the compiler being an old Turbo C++ 3.0 (released back in 1991-92). Don’t ask me why I’m using such an archaic compiler.

Pointers are simply variables that hold a memory location. There are two operators in C++ that are basic to doing anything with pointers: & and *.

& means “address of” and * means “at address”. Here, the word ‘address’ refers to memory addresses, which are usually represented in hexadecimal. Hexadecimal numbers are prefixed with 0x (zero x), so if I want to refer to a memory location of 1000 in hexadecimal, I’d write the corresponding memory address as 0x1000.

In programming terminology, & is used for refer...

It’s something that’s always been difficult for me. And I think the reason for that is that I’m usually too straightforward. I don’t like going around in circles in an effort to express something that can be said in a few words, even if the latter may come across as rude.

It’s because of this perhaps brutal honesty that I’m not too good at blending in with new friends. And as a consequence, I have trouble coping with new environments.

Something that’s inherently supposed to be comfortable, like living in a 5-star hotel with two friends for four days in India, becomes difficult because of something as simple as a different room layout.

I’m not comfortable with change in my routine, for some reason. I’m sure some other people have problems with these kinds of changes too, but they probably cope up pretty quickly and without too much hassle.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of me.

Live. And in the best way you think is possible.

I think that’s what everybody likes to do. Nobody wants to die; everybody wants to at least simply keep on existing in a healthy form.

If one has a disease, or is very old, the situation may be different. Some people wait for their death.

There’s a very apt quote that comes to mind, although I don’t quite remember who wrote this one: Even though we know we’re going to die one day, we spend our days as if we’d live forever.

There rings a truth in the above quote, and one thing becomes absolutely clear: we don’t know how to spend our time. We study, get a job, and make “livelihood”, but that’s not how most people really want to live.

Why do people want so much comfort? Why do they want facilities? What will they be getting in the end of it all? No-one escapes death, and nobody carries anything but themselves into the oblivion after...