D.O.N.T R.E.A.D M.Y B.L.O.G.S

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2007-08-10T23:15:00.009+05:45

The "Hero" in Haneef!

2007-07-31T02:18:00.000+05:45

After hitting the headlines consistently for almost a month, Bengaluru saw Dr. Mohammed Haneef return to his native city...as nothing less than a "hero". Every page of the newspaper had someone or the other pouring in their sympathies for Haneef and his family. Our good old PM went one step ahead by saying he was in tears after watching Haneef's family suffer.

If only all these politicians realize that there are millions and millions of our own country men suffering right under their eyes. After all, Dr. Haneef is someone who doesn't even want to stay back in India after all the "support" and the "help" that have been offered, which even includes a job from the Karnataka government! However, Dr. Haneef doesn't want that job, and prefers to go "back" to Australia, the country which supposedly disgraced him! So much for "making" Dr. Haneef a hero.

Who's to blame here? The media? The politicians? or us, living in this god-forsaken country?

Even I stand to offer my sympathies towards Dr. Haneef and his family. But this issue doesn't look any different from the flooding and drought faced by the crores of farmers across the nation. Same is the plight of each and every child working to make ends meet at a stage when education should be their only goal. The unemployed youth of India will only be too happy to be offered similar jobs by the government. Their families are suffering too. They lead a horrendous life, not for just 28 days, but every single day!

The real heroes are the ones fighting inhospitable weather in addition to the constant threat from enemies in Kargil, the Siachien Glacier and the like. I don't suppose Dr. Haneef and his family deserve this royal treatment for being branded as a terrorist, and later released! The country needs some serious re-thinking on its policies to take steps towards vision 2020, and not make heroes out of nowhere!

All said and done, my sympathies still stand extended to Dr. Haneef...

Thair Saadam...

2007-06-30T23:14:00.000+05:45

It's been 6 years since I graduated from High School. I did all my schooling, right from Kindergarten to Grade 12, in the heart of the heart of the city - Mylapore! And the school was none other than the famous PS Senior - fondly known as the "Thair Saadam" School :)

While kids aged 5 in the US get ready for the "play school", their counterparts in PS invariably get ready for their math test! Day after day, week after week, the tests never seem to end. Poor things! :)

"I've gone through the same when I was young."
But is that reason enough to allow our kids to "suffer"? Shouldn't we think beyond this aggressive way of "learning"? I recently saw a documentary on a popular TV channel on how forcing a kid to over-achieve in sports beyond its capacity might be harmful to its mental growth. But isn't the same true for academic education too?

I feel that there is a mysterious bond between these "thair saadams" and Engineering. Being an engineer my self, I somehow feel I wasn't provided enough opportunities to explore. I vividly remember a career advice forum that was conducted by my school. Men from various backgrounds ranging from the army to journalism were present. Each one gave a flowery speech about why their work was the best.

We students were so childish then that one guy ended up having a hot debate with the army general on why Veerappan remained uncaught!! It would only end on the intervention of our then teacher-terror Mr. Ramaurthy (I miss "outstanding" days ! Chikku and Sriram will know what I mean! :) ) I even got a chance to speak at the session, when I raised this question of monotony. I wanted to know why our school did not have an arts, or psychology or sociology department. My question was shunned by our principal herself, who pointed out to the 6th grade drawing lessons as being "art"!

Going a few more years back...I used to play Table Tennis, and played quite well too, to the extent of being seeded at the State Ranking Competition. It was my first such entry into such a huge tournament. And guess what! PS refused to sign a letter saying I wouldn't affect my academics! I ended not showing up at the venue. That was definitely the turning point of my TT career, when my coach refused to even speak to me. I don't remember regretting it that much (those playful days, you know!). But thinking back, I feel cheated.

PS could've done more than giving holidays for Nombu and Amavaasai! The good memories still remain, thanks only to the golden friends circle I was part of...the thair saadam gumbal :)

Brahminism

2007-06-28T05:01:00.000+05:45

Brahmin, derived from "Brahmana", means "belonging to Brahma". A Brahmin of olden times, was considered the possessor of "exclusive" rights to education and matters of social and spiritual importance. Those were the days when the Hindu religion boasted of the four major castes in Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants and land owners), Shudras (laborers) and the Brahmins.

Focusing on just the Brahmins, one cannot miss to notice the complexity of their society in the past. Westernization (along with ridicule from all corners) has had its share of destroying its traits. The Brahmins of today (including the "real" priests) have so completely transformed so as to blend comfortably into modernity.

Some of the most important characteristic traits of the "original" brams were the vibhudhi (ash markings on the forehead and body), saffron attires and the sacred thread (tied around the body from the left shoulder, going back circularly from underneath the right arm). Some of brams of today can hardly even recognize these - wearing the sacred thread is considered to be a mere formality. But how can it be when it is changed once a year without fail on the day of Aavani Avittam??!!!; the saffron-colored clothes are now part of the wardrobes of the so-called "Human Gods" with the power to do even the scientifically impossible!

However considering today's society of brams as a whole, they form part of the middle and the upper-middle class, with very little hold on the other sections of the society (a trait they had once mastered simply due to their "acquired" reach of knowledge and education). Apologies for not being euphemistic: this practice was plain bad!

Even today you can notice elderly brams asking the maids to enter through the back door, or asking them not to go near the pooja area (I can create a never-ending list, or may be a separate blog post just for the list!). This attitude is very easily assimilated by the younger generation, without questions being raised; the human brain LOVES to rule dudes!

If only the Brams comprised of at least 10% (as opposed to the meagre 2-3% in reality) of the Indian population, they could've kept up with the race to the throne. Now, facing them is a light-less tunnel, with no signs of an approaching train. The political oppostion started with "Thandhai" Periyaar, after Mahatma Gandhi fought for the "Harijans". The power of Periyaar was fabulous, and he got an immediate mass following. Our "No God, No Superstition" Kalaignar has only to add fuel to the fire with announcing "Anybody can become priest".

I can't quite understand what he means by "No God" when he takes so much effort to define what a "priest" is. Nor can I understand the meaning of "superstition", if sticking on to your yellow dhothi even when you can't even stand properly is not considered to be one! The point being, Kalaignar, and the thousands who own a priced political post, probably don't give a damn about how to pen the definitaion of a priest. This issue, by virtue of being Kalaignar's enemy's friend, was his enemy!

Has the brahmin society given a lot more importance to its self-pride than it should have? Is it now feeling the heat from all corners because of that? If not anything, the reservation is going to only surge. The political harted is going to deepen. Brams are slowly but stedily running away from the country to seek greener pastures.

Is this all because of our (Yes! After all that flaying, I'm a Bram too!) ancestors' flawed and self-deceiving livelihood? If only we had given a chance for the others in the soceity too! Is it too late now? Yes, I think so...

The Black & White Days!

2006-06-09T13:06:00.000+05:45

Are dreams black and white (B & W)?? No, I do get colour dreams. But some other things are definitely black and white - the olden days! It's a very simple, yet thought-provoking issue.

Think about the days of the Indian freedom struggle - Nehru, Netaji, Gandhiji...everyone appears B&W in front of our eyes! However much I try to imagine my grandparents in their teens, I just cannot envision them in coloured clothing. Forcing colours into their days, seems to make everything phony.

Why does this happen? Is there a scientific explanation to this? Or is this merely the influence of prolonged exposure to B&W photography?!

The first aircraft by Wright brothers...Abraham Lincoln...the World Wars...The Ford Thunderbird...The Russian Revolution...EVERYTHING IN BLACK AND WHITE! Why? Why? Why???

My best F.R.I.E.N.D.S

2006-06-05T20:51:00.000+05:45

Easily one of the funniest sitcoms ever to have hit the silver screens, F.R.I.E.N.D.S was first aired on 22 September 2004. There was no looking back after that until 6 May 2004, when the last of the 233 laugh-riot episodes was aired.

Though it is very difficult to rate the friends, I've done my best to rank them from my least favourite to the most:

6. Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston):
She's the millionaire, who turns waitress. She's real cute in the first couple of seasons, and real HOT in the next 5. But come season 8, wrinkles start getting the better of her...and even the best of make-ups dont seem to help much!
Coming to her character, she's this cute and bubbly girl, who's in the look-out for an ideal match right through-out. In the process, she gets on and off with Ross, and even gets married to him once while drunk! However, she is slisha annoying at times, compensated only by her HOTNESS (or however you put it)!

5. Monica Geller (Courtney Cox Arquette):
She's the whatever-I-do-is-correct, everything-should-be-perfect girl, who just HATES to be wrong! Her BEST acting part comes when she does "The Routine" with Ross for the New-Year's show! Simply AWESOME :D
However, too much of squeaking sometime gets on one's nerves :)

4. Ross Geller (David Schwimmer):
The guy who almost always has some sad tale to narrate, cracks everyone up with him amazing facial expressions and dialogue-delivery. With 3 failed marriages, and an unending list of flopped relationships, Ross is the guy who bears the brunt of mockeries. His best comes in the episode where he gets tanned in Season 10!
However, he tends to get monotonous after a while, spoiling the funny guy that he is meant to be.

3. Joey Tribbiani (Matt Le Blanc):
"Hey, How you doin? ;)" is probaby the BEST one line punches EVER to hit the screen. Joey, with his ever-so-late reactions, and his out-of-the-world intellect throws everyone into splits just with his neat acting. But things just go out of control in the later seasons when he's converted into a mere laughing-stock!

2. Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow):
She's probably THE funniest person on the show. Though she doesn't have that much of a story by herself, she does her part to perfection. Almost every single dialogue of hers will render a comical twist to the story! Her numbers with the guitar just cant stop bringing a smile across one's face. Especially, "Smelly Cat" ROCKS! Yay Pheebs!

1. Chandler Bing (Mathew Perry):
Unbelievably awesome! Out of the world! Mind-boggling!.... The list is endless. He is meant to be the "funny-guy" in the show and in the process has carved a niche for himself. It's so impossible to imagine the show without him (or without any one of the others for that matter, but especially w/o Mathew Perry). With a huge cauldron full of sarcasms, Chandler is probably THE BEST thing to have happened to FRIENDS.
The reaction that unfolds on Chandler's face when Joey drills through the wall so close to him, is just out of the world. 3 cheers to Chandler.

My best buds have been listed...Its your turn now guys...

8 stories up!

2006-06-03T23:30:00.000+05:45

I don't know how many of you guys have ever been eight stories up in chennai. But trust me, it is one of the most amazing things to have happened to me! My room in my apartment is east-facing, with windows both in the south and east directions for cross ventilation.

Come 4.30 PM, and the sea-breeze fills my room up and it's not until 8.30 at night do I feel the chilly winds recede slowly. And when it rains, the scenario is just orgasmic! OMG!

I was literally forced to write this blog cos of the amazing weather right at this moment in my room. I'm seeing lightning light up the city every other second, with soft drizzles kissing my forearms right throughout.

Do I even have to talk about my terrace...and the water tank thatz over it?? Come here guys, just to get a feel of what naturez all about..and to get to see "Chennai by Night"... S.E.X.Y! Real Sexy! :)

(No kidding, but the picture was snapped from my balcony!) Cheers...

"Hey, How you doin? ;)"

2006-05-30T19:26:00.000+05:45

Level 1 (Amateurs) :
"Hmm...its so boring just staring at the walls..."

Level 2 (Mildly experienced):
"So, what you doing tomorrow evening?"

Level 3 (Experts):
"Mind grabbing a cup of coffee?"

It's just about how expressive (and impressive :) ) you are! It's like throwing a ball at the wall...it's definitely going to come back - whether deflated or in-shape is the question!

Arite arite! What am I getting to?? I'm talking about the conversations between guys and girls. If you think about it, most of the conversations have their share of flirtatious exchanges! The guy tries to be impressive, just to make the gal comfortable and make her laugh and smile. The girl tries to return the gesture, and invariably tries to play the "hard-to-get" game...lolz.

After all, flirting is H.E.A.L.T.H.Y! Yes, that's cos we are animals too, and its only natural that we attract (and tend to get attracted to) the opposite sex.

I've seen people say that flirting turns them off, and that its cheap et al. Oh, pullleeeeeaaassssee!! Gimme a break! You can play the "Nice gal/guy" game. But, for how long?? Somethings are in-built - programmed as my friend Sriram might put it. And getting attracted to the opposite sex, is one of those instincts thats just coded. PERIOD!

Is it Love?
When you get too close to a gal (and you are single, of course :D), its only a matter of time before you start to feel if its "love". You then tend to get all wierd thoughts, and start playing mind-games. Though hints and suggestive talks help, it's always best to speak out! So, what if the girl/guy doesnt feel the same way? That's not the end of the world! (Too philosophical, I know :D) At least (s)he knows you are being frank.

I know most of you wont agree with me. But if you just think about it, playing mind-games can be the worst thing to happen to you - sleepless nights, endless vetti conversations with your friends about this, hours of thinking about 'wat to do next' etc.

However much technology has improved, there are not many ways to find out if its actually love and if the love is mutual or single-sided n stuff. There are just 2 ways to find out: 1.Speaking out and being frank 2.Giving hints and suggestions and looking at the response!

So, just be brave and choose your path people. Just remember the one thing, "Flirting is NOT a crime. It's a necessity" :) So, to all the gals reading this, "Hey! How you doin??" ;)

Cheers...

Mind your language :)

2006-05-26T10:26:00.000+05:45

Its called "gas" when its actually, without doubt, liquid. You say "Check, please" when you request for your restaurant bill! A bun is called "biscuit"!! You "skedule" (as in pronounciation) an appointment!!....

Yes, all that's cos its "American"...a language that no more deserves to be called *English*. If you ever want to associate the word 'english' to it, you are free to call it "Screwed-English".

To all those aspirants, who are planning to set foot on American soil, here are some (funny) conversions between American and English, which you better get familiarized with :) :

English--> American
-----------------------------------
* Coriander==Cilantro

* Cold drink== Soda pop

* Curd== Yogurt

* Filter coffee == Brewed coffee

* Milk powder== Cream

* French beans == Snow peas

* Hotel == Restaurant

* Jelly == Gelatin

* Garam== masalla Curry

* Lady fingers== Okra

* Small pastries ==Lady fingers

* Toffee == Hard candy

* Brinjal == Eggplant

* Biscuit == Cookies/Wafers

* Bun == Biscuit

* Finger chips== French fries

* Groundnuts == Peanuts

* ===== Education Related ======

* School High== school

* College == School

* University== School

* High school == School/Junior High

* Take a class == Teach a class

* Be a student == Take a class

* 2nd standard == 2nd grade

* High marks == Good grades

* Invigilator == Proctor

* Canteen == Cafeteria

* ===== Clothes =====

* Windcheater== Windbreaker

* Vest == Undershirt

* Waistcoat== Vest

* Half-pant == Shorts

* Purse == Wallet

* Swim trunks== Swim suit

*

* ===== Transportation Related ====

* Traffic signal == Traffic light

* Boot, dikky ==Trunk of a car

* Bonnet == Hood of a car

* Petrol pump == Gas station

* Petrol == Gas

* Diesel == Fuel

* Pavement== Sidewalk

* Footpath == Sidewalk

* Zebra Crossing== Crosswalk

* Take a lift == Get a ride

* Motorcycle == Motorbike

* Cycle == Bike

*

* ===== Other =====

* Football== Soccer

* Solid== Substantial

* Ltd. == Inc.

* Transistor== Radio

* Two-in-One == Boom box

* Goggles == Sunglasses

* Cooling glass== Sunglasses

* Toilet == Restroom

* Guest house== Motel

* Current == Electricity

* $20 Note == $20 Bill

* Cell == Battery

* Torch == Flashlight

* Rubber == Eraser

* Snap == Picture

* Photograph == Picture

* Mixee (?sp) == Mixer

* Dustbin == Trash can

* Beggar== Panhandler

* IBM-Compatible== IBM-Clone

* Inflammable== Flammable

* Mess Dorm== cafeteria

* Hotel == Restaurant

* Restaurant bill== Restaurant check

* Picture == Movie

* Talkies == Movies

* Lift == Elevator

* To fix == To install

* To repair== To fix

* Pram == Stroller
----------------------------------------------------

Courtesy: i20feverhyderabad@yahoogroups.com

Public bidding - whose money is it, any way?

2006-05-25T13:27:00.000+05:45

This blog might have come a bit late, but still...

Bribe (as defined by Wikipedia) : Bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the receiver's conduct. It may be any money, good, right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or any promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.

However when it was "campaign-time" in Tamil Nadu, the whole definition was changed to mean a *freebie* without much ado. The political parties were shouting their guts out to garner votes, in a totally different way. The usual "Vote for us, and we'll improve your locality", "Vote for us, and we'll provide you with employment" were completely replaced by things as cheap and desperate as "Vote for us, and we'll give you colour TV...free cable connection...et al"!!!!!!!!!!!

The pre-election scenario was reduced, and sadly, to an auction-bid - the only difference being, the situation changing from many people placing their bids in front of a single judge, to a couple of people placing their bids in front of a mass of 6.5 crores!!!

So obviously, when the bid to *give* away colour TVs was proposed, the lady from the opposition called right, when she decided to attack the "thaaikulam" (female masses) sentimentally - "Oru ponnoda mansu innuru ponnukku dhaan theriyum" (Only a girl will know what's there in another girl's mind). And so, what better than the "thaali" sentiment?! Yes, amma went one step ahead by promising to *give* a 4 gm gold "thaali" to unaffordable brides! (Christ, give me a break!)

These were followed by:
1. 2 acres of free farm land
2. Rice @ Rs 2/Kg
3. Free 10 Kgs of rice
4. Ration shops coming and delivering at your door-step
and so many others...an endless list of shocking promises!

If this ain't bribery, then I just cannot image what it might be. Or, is this legal cos it is done in public without concealing anything? Or because, it is someone else's money that these politicians are using to bribe? Or just the fact they are politicians enables them to bribe legally, and with rights?

And yes, it is "our" money - the money that we are paying as taxes - that is being sold out as *freebies*. I'm kind of amazed that the Election Commission didn't bat an eyelid, or try to do something to end the atrocity. The most surprising thing was that the entire episode was carried out in such a "matter-of-fact" attitude that we people hardly spent time to even think about its atrocious nature!

The various cine stars campaigning for the two giant parties stabilizied these debatable issues, this time, with some humour! Excerpts from actor-director Bhagyaraj's campaign for the DMK:
"Namba Vaiko vandhu 'Ivanga freeya colour TV kudupaanga, cable TV kudupaanga. Aana adhukellaam electricty bill yaaru kattardhu?' nnu kettaaru. Enna pa idhu?! Nambalaala kalyaanum mattum dhaan pa panni vekka mudiyum. Maththadhelaam, ahem ahem...eppidi?"
He finished the sentence with a cheeky smile (Oh ya, what wits!!).

And then came our TR, oops Vijaya TR, with one of his best pieces - "Vaiko! Avan oru psycho"!! Hilarious to say the least!

Where are our politications taking us? Can there be something done about this? Something???...ANYTHING??!

However all said and done, hats off to these politicians for completely erasing the word *bribery* from our dictionary. After all, that's what we wanted...right?

Redefining the word "Crazy"!

2006-05-09T18:17:00.002+05:45

If I were to refer to him as Rangachari Mohan, one might raise an eye-brow and shrug "Eh?". But add the word "Crazy" in the middle, and he becomes none other than the one and only "Crazy" Mohan - the person who has completely redefined the very word "Crazy".

With over 4000 stage plays and numerous TV shows and full-length comedy flicks, Mr. Mohan has carved a niche on his own. His rise to fame began with his first full-length comedy play "Crazy thieves in Palavaakam", a smash-hit which saw him being crowned the prefix "Crazy" to his name.

After that, there was no stopping Mr. Mohan, who went on to give more hits in "Ayya Amma Ammamma" and "Honeymoon Couple" (for Kaathadi Ramamurthy's Stage Creations). It was in 1979 that Mr. Mohan set up his own banner "Crazy Creations" and brought out yet another comedy bonanza in the form of "Allaudin and the 100 watts bulb".

Crazy Creations has then been instrumental in producing the likes of "Meesai Aanaalum Manaivi", "Madhu +2", "Jurassic Baby", "Marriage Made in Saloon" and "Madhil Mel Madhu", each of which have been staged over 400 times!

His break into the cine-field came in the form of veteran director K Balachandar's "Poi Kaal Kudhirai", whose story was adapted from his "Marriage Made in Saloon". Though the film went without much recognition, it sparked the start of a new dimension to the Tamil Film Industry.

When Mr. Mohan tied hands with the acting genius in Kamal Hassan, the tamil audience, desperately searching for the long-forgotten "clean" comedy, was thrown in a surprise in the form of "Aboorva Sahodarargal"! This was just the beginning of a really long list - Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Avvai Shanmukhi, Kadhala Kadhala, Indran Chandran, Sadhi Leelavathi, Pammal K Sambandam, Thenaali, Panchathantram, Vasool Raja MBBS. One would even be tempted to say that Mr. Mohan was the back-bone in bringing out the "comedian" in Kamal Hassan.

Some of his other brilliant scripts include "Kadhaa Nayagan" and "Aaha", each of which were laugh-riots! The "Adhaane?...Adhedhaan" of Arunaachalam fame still stands out as one of his best cheeky punches! The ever-famous "Aal Maaraatam" scenes in most of his creations always seem to take us to extremes of laughters. The dialogues of "Panchathantram" were so meticulously carved that one would miss the next joke if commited the sin of a prolonged laughter for the previous funda! :D

On a personal note, Mr. Mohan is a simple, polite and unassuming person, with a never-ending stock of hilarity! Three cheers to him. Looking forward to his next venture in "Jerry". Hope he continues to keep us immersed in smiles for years to come.

So guys: The next time when someone posts you an irritated question, "Are you crazy?", be proud to say "Yes, I am" :)

Kudos!

Michael 'The Gaad' Crichton!

2006-04-30T14:54:00.000+05:45

If therez one person in the world who has been able to convincingly convince me ( :) ), itz gotto be this man - CRICHTON! Every single novel of his has a differerent theme...a different genre...and each one is so damn awesome.

Great Train Robbery - As the name suggests, story of a classic robbery...was made into a movie too...

The Andromeda Strain - About the strain of viruses that reach earth when a man-made satellite returns from orbit...

The Terminal Man - About a man who's brain is supplemented by a mechanical brain...

Eater's of the dead (The 13th warrior) - A biography of a messenger...Also a movie...

Congo - About an expedition into the jungles of congo, in search of a lost city...Also a movie...

Sphere - About the discovery & investigation of a huge 'sphere' from god-knows-where! Also a movie...

Jurassic Park - Do I have to tell you! But let me tell you this...if u read the book, you'll really wonder how Spielberg (of all people) spoiled such a wonderful plot in his motion picture! The bookz 100 times better than the movie...

The Lost World - About the rediscovery of the forgotten dinosaurs ...Guys, dont come into a conclusion after watching the movie...the movie SUCKED to say the least...the bookz too good...

Rising Sun - Invesigation of the murder of a *beautiful* woman...

Disclosure - ONE OF HIS BEST, folks...Mixes law, science and computers into a wonderful nail-biting plot...demi moore n michael douglas have done a wonderful job, beyond expectations...

Airframe - Investigation on what went wrong after loads of people arrive injured when an aircraft lands on the tarmac...AWESOME too...if u r into aircraft or flying, this book will take you to the stars...

Timeline - About time-travel, explained in such a way that I was convined it would work someday...lolz...And the movie was CRAP...

Prey - This is probably one of his bad books...seemed as if he wrote it with an intention of making it into a movie...the bookz about man-made nano swarms...

State of Fear - TOOOOOOO GOOD! About human-induced global warming...and how so untrue it is...a MUST-READ for all science buffs...

Waiting for more wonderful novels from this amazing author...3 cheers to Crichton...

Ozone hole - Facts and the half-baked truths!

2006-04-28T13:11:00.000+05:45

Firstly, i might be sounding like a rebel in all my previous posts, challenging all the worldly-accepted views and theories. But, am someone who seeks *proof* for each damn thing said on paper! And I also strongly believe that therz almost always a contrary to even the best of accpeted beliefs. So, itz best to weigh both sides of the coin, rather than blindly jumping into conclusions.

This "Ozone hole" is one such fact (??). 90 out 100 people believe itz true. I'm part of the sane 10, who say "Give me proof, and an *acceptable* one". Thats only cos I've taken pains to do enough research to dig into the other side of these *supposedly* well-established truths!

(Discliamer: Facts here have been taken from well-researched publications. This is NOT an attempt at plagiarism, but an attempt to bring in all the good work, and publish before the green! Sources: Predict Weather, Chemistry Department at the University of Waterloo, and Columbia University...)

Lets start with the basics:
1. Ozone hole:
I know so many people think itz really a "hole"! I can only feel sorry for them. I dont blame them either cos thats what all our text-books right from 8th grade have taught it to be.
A ozone *hole* is nothing but merely a region where the density of ozone is "less(er)".

2. Ozone depletion is *only* cos of man:
Even if man were yet to set foot on earth, ozone molecules will still continue to disappear and reform in a continuous cycle! (Ozone is so very unstable)

3. The Ozone *layer*:
In order to simply understand the relationship between UV(sunlight), ozone and oxygen (air), lets think about what we see when we go to a beach. The order of things is
Water - Surf - Beach
The boundary where the water hits the beach is called *surf*. Similarly, in the upper atmosphere, the boundary where the sunlight hits the air is termed the *ozone layer*. This is because ozone is produced as a result of the UV acting on the oxygen in that region (where the sunlight hits the air)
Sunlight – Ozone - Air
Just as the surf cannot in any way protect the land from the sea, ozone cannot *protect* the air and our environment that is below it from UV. A result cannot be defined as a protector. To lament that ozone depletion is taking away “our protection” is the same as crying that surfers are wearing down the surf. Now, all that is there is the surf to hold the ocean back, and when the surf erodes (due to human behavior) the water will simply flood over the land and destroy mankind! lolz
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The Hype:

As with so many theories, threads are tied together to build a case. The case is then launched to the media to attract attention. The attention is then added to by ‘further findings’, ‘disturbing new studies’ and ‘concerns’ The end result is the willing granting of research funds to research “the problem”. If the word "Cancer" can be attached, so much the better for the case. The public will donate any amount of money for such a research. The case just has to be spelled out in a conclusive-sounding way.
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How is Ozone Formed?

O₂ + h v --> O + O (h v is a photon, which is got from sunlight - UV rays!)
O₂ + O --> O₃

02 is two oxygen atoms stuck together. When sufficient energy is supplied, now and then three oxygen atoms will stick together, making an 03 molecule, which is called ozone. The energy required for this can come from electrical discharge through the air, such as lightning, or from the sun in the form of UV rays.

The Sun’s energy from space races down to meet Earth’s rising air. Thats when a certain amount of 03 is produced. Ozone is merely the *result* of the photo-chemical process between oxygen and UV light. Hence, it is the photo-chemical process that *protects* us; the ozone is a mere by-product.

The absorption of UV B and C leads to the destruction of ozone

O₃ + h v --> O + O₂
O₃ + O --> 2 O₂
A dynamic equilibrium is established in these reactions. The ozone concentration varies due to the *amount of radiation received* from the sun.

BASELINE: Even if Ozone is going to get depleted, UV rays will still be utilized (absorbed) by oxygen to create more ozone. Give me a break! Man CANNOT possibly *stop* ozone from being *manufactured* (even while assuming he the cause of itz depletion) lolz. This will mean that UV rays will only continue to be absorbed! P.E.R.I.O.D.
---------------
CFCs - *NO* Evidence:

Despite all the information you may have read, there is not one shred of supportable evidence that CFCs have found their way 40 miles up above the Earth. No one has ever found any up there because they are roughly five times heavier than air. They are like "bricks" in a swimming pool.
It is not often that you will see a brick floating to the surface of your pool. CFCs are so dense that even as a gas you could fill a bucket with it and pour the contents of one bucket into another. Secondly there is *NO* evidence that they can destroy anything because they are very stable and unreactive substances. Most dictionaries and chemistry books describe them as inert gases.
(Faced with this rather unfortunate logic, some researchers extend the plot, claiming that in the upper atmosphere the intense UV light is sufficient to break down the CFCs, releasing chlorine which then does the damage. If that actually could happen though, then the “ozone layer” would just get replaced by the CFC layer, which would then further “protect” us from UV radiation as UV is used up to break CFCs. lolz!)
-----------------
Are the *holes* getting bigger??

In 1988 NASA’s Nimbus satellite appeared to show that the southern hole was increasing. Here was supposed proof that man was aggravating the situation. The fact that the following year’s results showed the hole smaller than ever previously recorded went totally unannounced, except in obscure journals!!!!!
I'm sure that 99% of you didn't even know that this happened!! Thats the way *modern* science works, folks - Publicize all that will fetch money, and raise eye-brows...shun all that will ruin your repute or the millions of dollars of hot cash that they will bring in! (What a shame!)
------------------
"Hey you! What about the Antarctic hole??"

Nice question. Appreciated. But read on...
Hmm, maybe, some chlorine is coming from some other source, instead of CFCs. Lets have a look around.
GOTCHA!! Just a few miles upwind from the Antarctic camp where all the readings about ozone-depletion originate from, is a rather large hill called Mt Erebus. Mt Erebus is an active volcano, which first erupted in 1982 (coincidentally about when the bigger hole was discovered).

Mt Erebus spews out over 1,000 tons of active chlorine every day. It is puffing away even this very second! This chlorine, far from being as cold as CFCs, comes out as superheated gas which shoots straight up into the stratosphere. This chlorine does break down the ozone. And Mt Erebus puts out more chlorine per year, all by itself, than all the cars and aerosol cans on earth put together could do in a decade.

It is a little tidbit of science that esteemed experts seem to have overlooked. Moreover, Erebus is not the only active volcano in the world. There are hundreds, thousands, throwing chlorine upwards every second. We sure can't cap all the volcanoes. lolz.
------------------
What do the experts say??

Finally, a word from a reliable expert. Robert Pease, Professor Emeritus of Physical Climatology at one of America’s leading universities, sent a disclaimer about what he called the “media-endorsed ozone-depletion theory” to many United States newspapers. Only a handful published it.

Here are some excerpts:
“..The ozone layer self heals. Ozone molecules in the atmosphere are constantly being replenished, created when energetic ultraviolet light splits normal oxygen. In addition, the ozone layer is replenished by upward diffusion of smog-induced surface ozone.
The belief that CFC molecules will rise and collect in the stratosphere is incorrect. Even if they did, there is a low probability of enough CFC decomposition necessary for ozone depletion. Based on Professor Rowland’s own calculations, there will be one CFC for every 136 million normal oxygen atoms in the ozone layer at 25 km altitude.
Clear-cut evidence of ozone depletion is lacking. The entire theory is based on the supposition that somehow heavier-than-air CFC molecules rise into the stratosphere unimpeded.
In no way can manmade destruction of the ozone layer be accepted as fact. Eventually a scientific debate may take place, and this ozone depletion scare might finally be laid to rest.."
(R.Pease)

Ya rite, P.E.A.C.E it is, folks...pour in all ur thoughts...cheers...

4 years and Yet to learn!!

2006-04-27T19:10:00.000+05:45

I'm almost done with college...4 years of monotonous life under the banner of Anna University. In the process, I've had to give in about 16 practical exams, each of which have been next best to an "eye-wash". Today was my 17th - supposedly the BIGGEST of them all - my bachelor's dissertation viva voce! I should have known! I should have known! I should have known! If only I had learnt from my past.

Scenario today afternoon:
(I enter the lab with my friend, to present my project to the external examiner. The external comes and takes a seat, and nods his head for us to start.)
Me: "Our project is about this " (exactly 2 sentences)
External: "Ok, show me your report"
(I give him my report. He doesnt even bother to look through it, and just signs it)
External: "Start your presentation"
Me n my friend: (We talk about our project's abstract - Slide # 1. Takes a minute)
External: (Stops us) "Ok, go on and show your demo"
Me: (I run my code, and start explaining. 1 minute into it, and he stops us)
External: (Asks a really stupid question)
My friend: (Gives the obvious answers, while controlling all his smiles....lolz)
External: (Nods) "Ok. You may go"

FOUR MINUTES IN ALL.
F.L.A.T.

Why did I NOT learn from my past?! Why? Why? Why? I hate myself for that!
But here, do I still say "Anna Univ ROCKS"?? Am confused!

Destination US of A

2006-04-26T11:08:00.000+05:45

The dream of thousands of students - To be able to catch a flight to the US of A to pursue their higher education. The entire process is so huge, that it takes about 6 to 8 months for one to finish it completely. For all the aspirants, here is a step-by-step list of things to be done.

1. The Standardized Tests:

1.1 Graduate Record Examination:
One might be tempted to call it an eye-wash! It almost is, yes, and am not kidding! A 1600 in the GRE does not guarantee a Stan admit, nor does a 1200 completely screw you. All you have to do is to make sure you get an near perfect score in your math, and a decent score in your verbal (The admission authorities know that the GRE verbal is not a good means of assessing your english skills...so, dont bother if you don't do great there...a score of above 550 should be more than enough)

1.1.1 When to take up the GRE?
If you are aiming for Fall 2007, the most ideal date for the GRE would be around June-August 2006. You can book on line at www.gre.org
You will need your credit card details to book on line, and the test charges are USD 140 (I know! Day-light robbery...lolz)
You are allowed to cancel or re-schedule your appointment, each of which is charged USD 40!

1.1.2 The CAT
The GRE test is on line and is computer adaptive. This means that each question that pops up on your screen is based on your answers to your previous questions. The computer judges you based on your responses, and posts questions accordingly. Ill probably try to simulate how it works:
When you start the test, the first question posted is generally of average difficulty for everyone, and the computer assumes your score to be around 550 (average score). If you answer it correctly, your score increases (say to 580), and the system now posts a question according to the increased difficulty level.
However, if your answer to the 1st question is wrong, your score decreases (say to a 500), and the computer now posts a less difficult question. This format continues for ALL the questions, and the computer tries to narrow your score to your approximate worth.
Points to remember:
a) The first few questions (say till 7 or 8) carry greater weightage than the last ones. This means that you will lose a lot if you answer these first questions wrongly, and hence, devote more time to them. However, by the time you reach the last few questions, the computer has already determined your approximate score, and so answering them wrongly *MIGHT* not be that big a deal.
b) NEVER leave any questions unanswered. If you find out that you have just 30 seconds to answer the last 5 questions, just close your eyes and make sure you answer ALL of them, with just wild guesses. As I said, wrong answers might not cost you much, but NOT answering them definitely WILL.

1.1.3 Your Free Score Reports
On the day of your test, you are allowed to designate 4 schools in the US, to which your scores will be sent FREE OF COST! So make sure, you think carefully before deciding those 4 schools. For more information on Universities in the US, visit www.usnews.com

1.1.4 Materials to study
In my opinion, you just need 3 things: a) The Barron's b) The BIG Book c) The Power Prep CD
Barron's wordlist is pretty much sufficient for the verbal section, and it takes a good part of 2 months to learn all the words (about 3500 of them!). The BIG book is no more avialable in the market, and hence catch your seniors to get a photocopy (Solve JUST the verbal part. The Big Book Math is for 8th graders! lolz). The Power Prep CD is sent to you through post, after you register for your GRE (It generally takes 20 days to reach you)

1.2 Test Of English as a Foreign Language
"Piece of cake" is NOT the word! Just the 2 tests in the Power Prep CDs will do. Visit www.toefl.org to register. The test is again USD 140. Im however not sure about the latest format, which is the TOEFL iBT. Kindly visit the web to find out.

1.2.1 When to take the TOEFL
You just need a day's prep. So answer that yourself!

1.2.2 CBT
TOEFL is again a Computer Adaptive Test (Only your Listening and Structure are CA). Just tests if you understand the various types of american accents (Texan, Californian etc etc - piece of cake, again!), your ability to form error-free sentences, and your writing skills!

1.2.3 Your Free Score Reports
---Same as that of the GRE---

2. Deciding the Schools:
Your next step would be to decide what universities you are going to apply to. The best site for this process would be www.usnews.com
There are quite a bit of freebie information available, but the best is locked up only for members. You need to pay USD 14.99 to register and get all the locked up details.
Other useful sites are www.edulix.com (an education forum) and the various communities at orkut.

2.1 A few criteria for selection
a) Rank (US News rank is generally accepted as the standard)
b) Tuition (Private universities charge a fortune, but offer more funds. Public univs are cheaper, but offer funds mainly to locals)
c) History of Funding
d) Acceptance rate
e) Repute in your field of specialization

2.2 When to start you app process
The best time would be start around mid-August. The deadlines for acceptance of applications start as early as Nov 15th. There are universities taht have very late deadlines too. The deadlines are REALLY specific to the departments in the universities. So contact the department to know the details. Most departments post these details in the web page. The best bet would be to do a Google. For example: "Stanford + ECE", will get you Stanford's department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

2.3 Application Forms
Almost all univeristies have on line application forms in their respective department websites. You will need to send in your application fee on line with the help of your credit card. The average fee is around USD 45-50!

2.4 Additional Materials
Apart from the on line forms, you will need to download and print several other application forms, mainly specific for your department. All these details will be provided in their respective web sites.

3. Lettes of Recommendation
They form one of the most important aspects of your application. So, make sure you get them from professors or lecturers who know you really well. There is actually NO point in getting a letter from an IIT Prof or an IISc prof, unless he/she has taken courses for you. The IIT or IISc tag otherwise, will NOT help you in any way.
Apart from getting a written letter, every university will require you to download their own custom REFERENCE FORMS to be filled by your recommenders. Make sure you get both done... put them in the same envelope and get the flaps cross-signed and sealed.

4. Statement Of Purpose
The single MOST IMPORTANT aspect of your application packet - SOP! This is because the SOP is the ONLY part of your packet, which is COMPLETELY under your control. So, you really really need to make sure you get the best out of it.

4.1 Things people look for in a SOP
a) Why this field?
b) Your motivation
c) Why this university?
d) Your specialization interests
e) Profs you'd like to work with
f) Your future plans and goals
For more tips, visit www.statementofpurpose.com

4.2 DONTs
a) NEVER write what you did when you were 5 years old or 10 years old. All they look for is what you are now, and what you want to be and why!
b) NEVER write stories (For eg: "It was one fine day when the idea struct me, and I ran from my bath-tub crying 'Eureka!'"...lolz) . Just write to the point

4.3 A Good SOP
A good SOP is achievable only after numerous revisions, and could even take a month to get converted into the fair copy (Mine took slightly more than a month!). Look through as many *successful* SOPs as possible, and get ideas from them. Get your's edited by friends or experts over and over again. (I would've edited at least 25 SOPs myself, and would be happy to help you guys out...just mail your draft to cheekum_gs at hotmail dot com)

5. General Top 10 Universities (for Computer and Electronics related fields)
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. University of California at Berkeley
Stanford University
4. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
6. Carnegie Melon University
California Institue of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
9. Cornell University
University of Texas at Austin
Purdue University - West Lafayette

6. More information will be posted soon, folks...check up in a bit...cheers n best...

Inter-cast marriages!

2006-04-24T22:05:00.000+05:45

I know this is going to be controversial, but still...

India is known for what is called "Unity in diversity". The question of whether we are "united" is different, but we sure are losing our unity in "diversity" (as in a diverse culture). Two of the major culprits , i opine, for the loss of this "identity" are: 1. Inter-caste marriages 2. Influence of western culture.

There are increasingly more number of people these days who wish to call themselves "Indians" rather than branding them by their castes or sub-castes - Hats off! But there is a hidden cost involved. Though one might talk about equality of castes and sects, the goal should also be to preserve each one's identity - a thing kept in tact for god knows how many years!.

A muslim is supposed to do "namas" each friday; a christian is supposed to make it a point to go to a church every sunday; a brahmin is supposed to do sandhyavandhanam 3 times a day...the list is endless...

But how many of these things are being followed today??! Though influence of western culture plays a major part, the role of inter-caste marriages is big too, and should not be neglected. When, say a nadar ties the knot with a mudaliyar, they end up erasing the identity of the generations to follow. For the "live a life for yourself" person, this might be of no concern, but for a "die-hard fan of Indian culture", this really is a point of worry!

Moreover in India, marriage is as association of 2 families rather than 2 mere individuals. It is an occasion to celebrate and remember, for the entire set of family and friends, and its high-time we consider being more responsible. The parents of today are, however more than willing to nod their heads to inter-caste weddings, showcasing their affection towards their wards! But what they are forgetting is to think about the future of their grand-children, and ultimately their descent!

Take the US of A for example. It is supposed to be penthouse for people from so many different countries and cultures. But the point to be noted is that everyone behaves much the same way once born and brought up there. Be it a chinese, or a black, or an ABCD, the rude "mommy, you are boring" and the "dad, get me a drink" are extremely common house-hold statements! The beauty here is that, India *shines*, and with pride, because of its ability to preserve the identities of such diverse cultures over thousands of years (which I'm afraid is fast evaporating :( )

One might ask me to get a move over, saying all my points of view are archaic, and are no longer coherent with the life of today! This very attitude is the result of western influence. There are somethings that need to be preserved, relished and cherised...and our culture is definitely one among them. Lets work for it, in whatever *small* way possible...cheers...
***********
PS: This doesnt mean that preventing inter-caste marriages alone would keep our heritage in tact....just that inter-caste wedding is one neglected aspect, which I thought, needed to be brought under our eyes.

Global Warming - A myth?

2006-02-27T14:09:00.000+05:45

Our good old earth is really old - A whopping 4.5 billion years! Adding 20,000 years (the estimated time since man first came on earth) to 4.5 billion is equivalent to adding a huge amount to infinity! Its still going to remain the same. Arite, what am I getting to??

Its basically this: The total time-span of man's existence on earth is thoroughly insignificant when compared to the life of the earth! Now, how significant can 50 years be in such a huge time-span?? Yupp, you got the answer buddy! "Insignificant to the insignificant"

This is precisely what the green-house gases released by humans, mean to the earth - I.N.S.I.G.N.I.F.I.C.A.N.T!! Ever since the earth came into existence, it has constanly been subject to climatic changes. We've had periods with temperatures reaching thousands of kelvin, to periods where temperatures have gone down to the lowest on the negative scale! It augurs well with the popular saying "Change is the only thing thats permanent"

According to chaos theory, "Climate CANNOT be predicted", as it does not follow any form of linear or perceivably complex equations! It JUST CANNOT be predicted...P.E.R.I.O.D
However, we have our loyal researchers and environmentalists predicting a global temperature rise of 4-5 degrees by the end of the century! For all you know, the sun's magnetic cycle can reverse itself, thereby causing a complete change in the behaviour each and every atom on earth, leave alone the climate! (It is a strongly believed idea that the sun's magnetic cycle influences the pattern of weather, though no-one has modelled how)

Now, lets come to the main point: Humans, in the last 50 years have been accused of altering the entire climatic balance of earth. The emission of excessive green-house gasses is said to be the major cause of this. Everything put together has been termed "Human-induced Global Warming"! I'm pretty sure, 99% of the common-men at least have an increasing urge to believe its true.

Firstly a few facts to clear out the half-baked truths:
1. 99% of the Green House effect is caused due to Water Vapour, and NOT due to CO2 as most people think

2. The total amount of CO2 present in the atmosphere is between a mere 0.3-0.4%!!

3. The increase in the amount of CO2 is still counted in ppm (parts per million), just to project it in big numbers!!

So, how-much-ever CO2 we humans release into the atmosphere, it will take another couple of hundred years for it to even go beyond the 0.45% mark - an increase that doesnt even deserve to be called insignificant!! :) So, what is all this fuss about?? Read on...

Global Warming research is considered to be the highest money-grosser for research grants all over the world...all the conferences, work-shops, models, simluations...billions of dollars...
So, it's actually an open secret among the scientists that "Global Warming CANNOT be proved"...cos, thats climate for you guys...UNPREDICTABLE!

So, these scientists obviously worry about jeopardizing their grants if they opt to reveal the truth! This is the exact reason why The US of A is refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol...cos, it knows CO2 is of no threat! Or at least, has not proven to be one...

As a final thought-provoker...just think about it guys...logically...all the several changes brought about on earth over billions of years, being undone by a mere 50-years of human activities?? FUNNY, to say the least!

Why use a complex language?

2006-02-26T18:38:00.000+05:45

I'm never a fan of flamboyant writing (and writers)!! After all, language is just a means of communication...you say what you want to say, so that the other person understands in its entirety!

I've read so many blogs for that matter, where people desperately make it a point to use archaic words, which are seemingly of "high-funda" usage! It just reminds me of the episode in F.R.I.E.N.D.S where Joey pens a letter of recommendation for Chandler and Monica! Unbelievably H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S!!!

Script from 1005:

Joey: (using a laptop) Oh, Monica and Chandler's recommendation. I want it to sound smart but.. I don't know any big words or anything, so...
Ross: Why don't you use your Thesaurus?

Joey: What did I just say?

Ross: Watch. (he takes the laptop) Here, you ehm... You highlight the word you want to change.Go under Tools and the Thesaurus generates... 'gives'... 'gives' a whole list of choices. You can pick the word that sounds smartest.

Joey: Oh my God, that's great! I'm smart!! No, no, I'm... (he uses the Thesaurus) "brainy, bright, clever", I love this thing! Look out ladies, Joey Tribbiani's got the whole package!!

***

[Scene: Monica's apartment. Joey enters the room]
Joey: Hey, finished my recommendation. (he hands it over to Chandler) Here. And I think you'll be very, very happy. It's the longest I ever spent on a computer without looking at porn.

Chandler: (reading) I don't... uh... understand.

Joey: (sounding very proud of himself) Some of the words are a little too sophisticated for ya?

Monica: (also reading it) It doesn't make any sense.

Joey: Of course it does! It's smart! I used the the-saurus!

Chandler: On every word?

Joey: Yep!

Monica: Alright, what was this sentence originally? (shows the sentence to Joey)

Joey: Oh, 'They are warm, nice, people with big hearts'.

Chandler: And that became 'they are humid prepossessing Homo Sapiens with full sized aortic pumps...?

Joey: Yeah, yeah and hey, I really mean it, dude.

Monica: Hey Joey, I don't think we can use this.

Joey: Why not?

Monica: Well, because you signed it baby kangaroo Tribbiani (Joey makes a 'and-what's-wrong-with-that' look). Hey, why don't you stop worrying about sounding smart and just be yourself!

Chandler: You know what? You don't need a thesaurus, just write from here, (points at his own heart) your full sized aortic pump.

*********
Hilarious ain't it...i generally find it difficult to find the difference between these "supposedly" flamboyant writers and Joey!!! he he

Take for example a famous columnist from The Hindu...I'm just refraining from mentioning his name, cos I dont know whether I'll be liable for a law suit! Kindly let me know if I can mention, guys!
Ya, this sport columnist, a writer for ages, ALWAYS starts every column with a paragraph (or more, sometimes!!) that is in NO WAY related to the articles he proposes to write! IIRRITATING to say the least. Why does Kalpana Chawla's name feature in the starting paragraph of an article meant to drub the Indian Hockey team??!! Even God (if He exists) will be surprised!!

There are several things nice about the english language...its universally accepted, easy to learn, etc etc...but the very fact that a single word can have as many as 50 synonyms serves as a black mark against all these good points!

You can say "I believe it is complex"...it just gets on my nerves when it is framed something like "I reckon it is convoluted"...In fact this is not a good analogy!! Sorry couldn't think of a better one, but guess you undestand what I mean!!

Satisfactory, accompanying brusquely guys, got to charge
Oops, I meant "Ok more later guys, gotto rush..." :) :)

Denpasar - Bali, 10th January 2006

2006-02-23T20:17:00.000+05:45

This one's really hilarious guys:

Sriram n I started out for a walk in the morning, along the beach...the shore-linewas quite big, and we had to pass a few resorts on our way. We happily tooklots of snaps, got a couple of beautiful oil paintings, and started back on our way.we strolled on for a distance and walked back into the resort area...sinceit was our first day out there, we were not quite familiar with the place, cos the resort was quite huge...we were wondering how we missed out seeing such a huge swimming pool in the resort.
We walked to a tea-table,right-royally sat down, and asked one of the attenders to take a snap, which he did with mighty pleasure. We then enquired about the pool facility, went there and played pool, cursing the ppl for the horrible condition of the que ball!!! and adding to our woes, there was no chalk!! ;) ;)

we were also (at least thatz wat we imagined) followed by a couple of hotchics :)...we thadavified pool for 15 mins, and gave up!! oh oh i forgot...every 10 mins or so, sriram would go to this (supposedly) hotreceptionist at the resort and ask her queries :)

now, wherez the interesting part of the story??? nothing, but just that all the above mentioned things dint happen at the resort that we werestaying!!!!! we had missed our place, and gone to a completely different resort (right-roylly, once again) :) :)

oh ya forgot: u know how we figured out our blunder?? herez how:
after roaming for 15 mins, trying to figure out the way to our room,

sriram to receptionist: Could you please tell us how we can get to roomnumber 1303??receptionist: we have no 4 digit room numbers, sir. Only 3 digits!!!!!:) :)

cheers...

Cheat destiny?

2006-02-23T20:02:00.000+05:45

You believe in destiny? Hmm...Let me prove that Destiny is something that can NEVER be disproved!
Think of this situation: Assume you are destined to read this blog! You get to know about this, and want to prove destiny wrong by refusing to read it! Thats where destiny says "Gotcha!"...cos, your destiny actually was "To make you think your destiny is to read the blog, and hence to prevent you from doing so by making you think you can cheat it"!! Read the statement once again carefully if u dint understand!

Yes!! its a recursive function call, mates!!! AMAZING, aint it??

Oops, I forgot the most important part : Hence, the proof :)

PS: For those interested in "destiny" and the like, watch Final Destination I, and II

GOD? TIME? MAN==INTELLIGENT?

2006-02-23T19:16:00.000+05:45

The most complex entity in the entire universe...a true unbelievable wonder...yet to be understood in its entirety...blah blah...yupp, talking about the human brain! Did this piece of wonder evolve from a tiny single-celled organism "supposedly" created by ______ (??) ?

Man is intelligent!! Oh, is he? Ask him to define "time"! Gotcha...How come a thing of such amazement, responsible for the creation of everything from the wheel to the dual-core intel processors, fails to comprehend a basic concept called "time"?

"Time is the 4th dimension!"
Time is defined to be "a nonspatial linear continuum wherein events occur in an apparently irreversible order."
A contradiction? A dimenstion is supposed to have 2 directions...forward and backward!

"When did Time start?"
'Start' and 'End' are themselves concepts which man created to convince himself of otherwise in-explainable things! So, here goes : TIME DINT START, TIME WILL NEVER END!
Not convinced? That's cos of your human brain, again. Our supposedly..infinitely..amazingly...complex brain refuses to accept facts that it cannot perceive - A F.L.A.W! Whose flaw? No one knows!

T.I.M.E - A possible definition: Think of time as a linear axis, which is nothing but a part of a circle of infinite radius. Time is thus circular, with no start and no end! - Saint Aggathiyar's theory of cycle of life! (expect that in my future blogs)

GOD?
It took our human brain years and years of dedicated studies to decipher the structure of the tiny DNA...a molecule with billions and billions of base pairs...the invention of something similar cannot even be dreamt of by the gray matter!
The billions and billions of enzymes, cos of which our everyday activities seem to take place without a worry...nothing less than a miracle! (Or is it still something that we cant digest??)

So, kind of hard of believe when someone says these things "evolved"??!
Common, who tells the human body that "ammonia", which is present in large quantities in the body, is bad for the brain cells, and thus prevents it reaching the brain?? (Thx Harini, for the info)

So, there is GOD rite??
.
.
.
.
.
.
Yes and No!!!! cos, I'm human...give me proof (for the existence or otherwise) and I'll agree! :)

Basically, the point is : "We are a bunch of confused crappers" muahahahaha...