Merry Christmas from Terminal 2

Yay!!! India bound again!! Really looking forward to it. This is and will be my longest continuous stay in India. The year 2009 has been a year of patience, perseverence and decent amount of fun and has brought about new opportunities. Year 2010 am hopeful is a year of positive changes and hope to have greater amount of fun!!

A quick snapshot before I sign-off.
Recent Books I have read
The Appeal- John Grisham - Gripping and full of strategy. Decent read.
Two States - Chetan Bhagat - Hilarious. Must read.

Recent Movies
Bef0re Sunrise , Before Sunset - Two Brilliant Romantic comedies. Very conversational. (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy).
Vettaikaaran - Good laugh and a decent masala movie. Good to watch with friends.
Anushka is smokin hot!! (Loved the songs Kairgalan and En Ucchi mandai la gir!!! )

Recent Sports
Resumed tennis for the past 3-4 weeks. Game still not to the level as before. Need to improve!!

Highlights of the Month
Really glad that I completed the Standard Chartered Half Marathon (21 Km) on December 6th. This is my second half-marathon and I completed it in around 2hrs 58 min (about the same time as last year).
Signing off now to board AI 447. Until then Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Now playing : Sol Sol avalidam sol (Paiyaa)

Happy Deepavali 2009

Standard Fireworks, Peacock Brand, 100 Wala Lar Grand, Snake, Stone, Sparklers, Vishnu Chakram, Thara Chakram, Buswanam, Aerial color-out, Morning Idlis, Patti-Mandram, Deepavali Release.

These are the only faint memories that I have of celebrating Deepavali at home. It has been around 10 years, since I set forth out of home for college and work thereafter. In these 10 years I have been at home for Deepavali only a couple of times. I know for a fact that in the coming few years, there are very less chances of me being at home for Diwali. So here I am at the airport on the Diwali eve, taking a flight to Chennai. This was a very impulsive booking on my part, and a last minute decision. But I dont repent it. I am sure I will cherish this weekend for ever!!

So all you guys out there spending your Diwali with your loved ones and family, you should feel very special and lucky!! And those who are far away from their loved ones, gather with your friends and have fun, for this is a season of lights and you should brighten your lives with this light, wherever you are in this world!!!

Snapshot

Quote of the Month
மூச்சு விட்டு கொண்டிருப்பவன் எல்லாம் மனிதனல்ல.
கிடைசி மூச்சு வரை முயற்சி செய்து கொண்டிருப்பவனே மனிதன்!
A man is not defined by the fact that he is constantly breathing. One who persistently keeps trying until his last breath maketh a MAN!
(Heard this on Vijay TV rendered by a Tamil Poet and lyricist called Pa. Vijay).
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Book Recommendations:
1. Unaccustomed earth - Jhumpa Lahiri
Very moving stories, but most of the stories have a sad undertone.

2. My Days - A Memoir - RK Narayan
My Guru, My role model, my God, my constant companion. His life is as interesting as his books.
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Recent Good Movies :
1. Unnai Pol Oruvan - Kamal Haasan - Need I say more.
2. Kaminey
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Recent Board Game discovery:
Discovered an awesome game called RISK. The objective of this game is to conquer the world. A board game with skills similar to Age of Empires.
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Restaurants :
Chutney Mary (East Coast Road)
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NEWS of the Month
* Sensex kicking some ass now.
* 1 year anniversary of Lehman brothers collapse and world economies showing some signs that the recession is coming to an end (touch wood, in fact touch an entire forest ).
* Signs of water on the moon discovered as part of the Chandraayan moon mission.
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Highlights of the Month
Looking forward to the Singapore F1 night race this weekend!!!

My Day in Brands

Colgate
Listrine
Garnier
Pears
Nivea
Johnson & Johnson
Kenneth Cole
Alain Delon
Woodlands
Seven Eleven
Magnolia
HP
NEC
MS Windows
Redoxon
Google
Java
Samsung
Starhub
Akira
Acer
Ikea
Listrine
Himalaya
LG

Life, A Riddle and Ten Questions

"I asked of life what have you to give me?
Life answered back : What you have to offer!"

(This was a poster in our bedroom which has always been there since as far as I can remember)

Riddle

When you utter my name I disappear. Who am I or What am I?
This riddle was from the movie "Life is Beautiful" (Italian movie).



Two alternative answers
1. Gratitude
2. Silence


Questions

1. Why are we selfish at times (or most times)?
2. Why can't we put others' needs before ours?
3. Why do seek recognition from others? (for e.g. why do I feel happy when others leave comments on my blog)?
4. Is there a purpose to life and if so are we doing our duty?
5. Why is money so important inspite of not being important?
6 Why can't we speak our minds?
7. Why is the mind so devious at times?
8. Is there a good and bad side to our brain/thinking?
9. How do I know that I am intelligent? Is it by proving that I can solve a difficult mathematical
problem or by cracking difficult exams or scoring high on an IQ Test?
10 It is 3 AM in the morning and am I crazy to be blogging at this hour?

Dog's Day

I am not particularly fond of owning dogs and for that matter any pet purely from a laziness perspective. It is quite a dog's work (no offence meant for the dogs) to take care of them, keep them clean and to keep the house clean.

But if you think of all the famous characters in cartoons, books or movies you are fond of, most likely some of them will own dogs. Some of my favorite dogs are below.

Hotdog - Jughead

Hutch Dog - Hutch Ads (The Network follows where you go)

Ruff - Dennis The Menace

Pluto - Disney Cartoons

Snowy - Tintin

Timothy (George's dog) - Famous Five (Enid Blyton)

My dream house definitely has a cosy kennel under a tree with the name board of my dog "Einstein" (not as an offence, but more out of great respect for the great guy).

Assorted Flavors

Useless Funda No. 1

Relationships and ropes are complements of each other. If the two ends of a rope are pulled too far apart, there is great tension and high chances that the rope might break.If the two entities in a relationship are too far apart, there is too much slack and high chances of a failed relationship.If the two ends of a rope are very close to each other there is too much slack and no harmonic vibrations. If the two entities of a relationship are too close to each other, there is very high tension and no harmony in the relationship. The key is the right distance, right space!

Scott Adams Advise for Atheists (modified version)

In his books Scott adams postulates an interesting theory as to why atheists should reconsider their position.

• Assume atheists believe that God does not exist with a 99.9999999999 % confidence level.
• Probability that Christianity is "THE TRUE" religion of the world = 1/6 (Set : Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Paganism, Hinduism and offshoots, Rest of religions)
• Calculating expectations of atheists spending eternity in hell (since non-believers go to hell for eternity):
  1/6 * (1 - 99.9999999999%) * Eternity = Eternity = Infinity

Mathematically atheists are in a losing position.

At work

Rapunzel: You know "Adams Apple" is getting married on 07/07/07 (7/7/2007)

Thumbelina: Ah! Nice. It is the Jackpot day of this millenium!

Peter Pan: It is quite funny isn't it. In gambling you spend money on the Slot machine. When you win a Jackpot 777 you get a hell a lot of more money. Whereas when you spend a lot of money and get married on a 777 date, you are eventually going to blow even more money.I would rather gamble.
Wendy: You are so mean!!

sulk sulk! I am going out with Hulk!

Little Red Riding Hood: Jokes apart, are you superstitious?

Jack on the Bean-Stalk: I don't believe in superstitions because I believe they bring bad luck to me ;)

Pinnochio: You are a twisted man. Paradoxtor we should call you!

Seigniorage Explained

Seigniorage is the mechanism of raising funds by printing of currency for Government spending.

For e.g. if the Reserve Bank of India mints 1 Crore - 5 Rs currency notes (i.e. 5 Crore Rs. worth) and assume the cost of manufacturing each note is 1Rs. So the Reserve Bank raises 4 Crore Rs in this Seigniorage process. This money can be used for all Government Fiscal spending. The catch here, what is the effect of unregulated Seigniorage? Can the government just keep on minting notes to counter the fiscal deficit and to fund government related spending?

You may recall from Indian History one of the blunders commited by Mohammad Bin Tughlaq! He was extremely interested in Coinage and minted numerous Brass and Copper coins. Being commonly available metals, every house in India started minting their own coins (i.e forged coins). The supply of currency increased so much that it threatened economic collapse through increased inflation. The Sultan had to buy back all the currency from the public (including the forged ones) by paying in bullion/gold.

Therefore the main consequence of expansion of money supply is Inflation. Inflation as we know means that all our money deposits and funds that we possess become lesser in value.

Thus we can see the need for controlling monetary expansion and ensuring the value of currency. This regulation is done by Central banks and regulatory bodies such as Reserve Bank of India and MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) etc.

Wow economics is damn interesting aint it!

Faith and Science

http://www.wellingtongrey.net/miscellanea/archive/2007-01-15%20--%20science%20vs%20faith.png

Life 70 mm

Akayla (1991)

Dil To Paagal Hai (1997)

Unnal Mudiyum Thambi [you can do it brother!] (1988)

Talaash (2002)

Koi Mil Gaya (2003)

Tum Se Milke (2003)

Kyun? Ho Gaya Naa (2004)

Jillendru Oru Kaadhal [A cool Love] (2006)

MujhSe Shaadi Karoge (2004)

Shaadi Se Pehle (2006)

Vivaah (2006)

Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar (2004)

Yours Royally

I just happened happened to come across this photographic novel called "Maharajas of India". It has some really rare and wonderful photos of the indian royalty and some interesting facts and stories about them. I have included some of the good ones below :

1. Maharajah of Patiala Hails (rather judges) Hitler

It was the time when Hitler was becoming popular and famous for his totalitarian and fascist dictatorship. The Maharajah of Patiala had this itching to visit Germany and travel around. So he wrote to the Indian Government (the then ruling authorities though it was under the British):

"There is also that rising Dictator, Herr Hitler, and it would afford me so much pleasure to see him and judge him on his merits or otherwise"

[Hilarious!!! A visit just to judge Hitler on his merits :D ]

The Maharajah then finally visited Berlin and had a meeting with Hitler that lasted 30 minutes. After all this pain you know what the Maharajah first spoke to Hitler ?

He began telling Hitler how much he had to pay extraordinarily for the Medical fees in Germany earlier!! Hitler did not even respond to this!

2. Bahadur Shah Zafar - The Shaayar
We all know that Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last of the Mughal rulers. He was imprisoned at the age of 80 and his sons were killed, for being a part of the Great Indian Sepoy mutiny of 1857. He had also another side to him. He was a great poet and below is one of the verses he wrote when he was in the midst of all this misery:

The Tempest of Misfortune has overwhelmed me
It has scattered my glory to the winds
And dispersed my throne in the Air

Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled in Rangoon which is where he died.
The following was the verse written by him as his epitaph (translated in english):

My heart is not happy in this despoiled land
Who has ever felt fulfilled in this transient world

Tell these emotions to go dwell elsewhere
Where is there space for them in this bismirched (bloodied) heart

I had requested for a long life a life of four days
Two passed by in pining, and two in waiting.

How unlucky is Zafar! For burial
Even two yards of land were not to be had, in the land (of the) beloved


3. Washing Hands Washes Away the Throne

At a royal gathering in the year 1911, the Maharajah Jai Singh of Alwar chanced upon Queen Mary and King George V. As was the formality Jai Singh shook hands with the King and then with the Queen. It was considered a sin in those days for an Indian King to shake hands with a stranger woman and hence to purify his hands he washed himself with Ganges water later.
The English Royalty came to know about this somehow (:D) and this indiscretion cost him quite a lot and he was forced to step down by the British Queen.

Buffaloing with English

I recently came across this nice article on wikipedia: wiki
Apparently buffalo has another meaning in english meaning: to confuse, to deceive.

The weirder part comes here. The following is a grammatically correct English sentence:
"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."
The meaning of this sentence goes something like:
The Buffalo bison that Buffalo bison intimidate, intimidate Buffalo bison. OR
New York bison, [that] New York bison annoy, [also] bother New York bison.

You want more of this :)
here it goes:
1. Cowes cows Cowes cows cow cow Cowes cows.
2. Bore boar Bore boar bore bore bore Bore boar bore.
3. "I wonder whether the wether will weather the weather, or whether the wether the weather will kill.

Personality tests

I took this interesting personality test, that matches your personality to famous people. I took the test twice and ended up with two leaders :D
It also matches your personality with a movie.

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Call It Conservative Call it Chennai

Being born and brought up in Chennai, I have experienced the conservative way of living in the City. I would say that this conservativeness is in a way necessary and good to inculcate moral values and ethics into the people (especially for children and adoloscents). But this recent case on Khushboo, Suhasini etc. has really crossed limits and so much hullaballoo on this is totally unnecessary and nonsensical.

Read this Article from Times of India on this Issue:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1298218,curpg-1.cms

What is the most ironical about this Khushboo issue is that the people who are raising their voice
against her (White-Dhoti Politicians and as much black on the inside) constitute the least moral and unethical people who are known for their polygamy, affairs, and various other shady businesses and have no business talking about Tamizh Panpadu (Tamil Ethics and Culture).

Card Games

Card games are awesome fun and a nice timepass especially if you have a big group. In my childhood I used to primarily play Ass and Joker. Then during the numerous train journeys to College we used to play quite a number of card games and I learnt games like Rummy, trump, Bid etc. Yesterday I learnt a new game called TeenPathi (Flush/Flash). Really nice game. The problem with card games is that I tend to forget the exact rules if I have not played the game for a long time. I found a nice link that lists most card games with their rules.

http://www.pagat.com/alpha.html

http://www.pagat.com/

Nature Retreat - MacRitchie Reservoir

For all Nature freaks in Singapore, the MacRitchie reservoir park walking trails are one of the best you can get in Singapore. It is a picturesque location with walking trails all along the perimeter of the MacRitichie lake. I think morning time is the best time to visit the reservoir park as it is very cool and the morning dew on the rich foliage is breathtaking.



There are various attractions also in this Reservoir, the best one being the Tree Top Walk. This is a strech of the trail where one can
walk over a Suspension bridge amidst the tree tops and it is really a worthwhile experience. You feel like you are over a jungle and we also get a very good view of the reservoir area.

My personal favorite attraction in the reservoir is feeding the turtles. These turtles are really bold and hungry and even take food directly from the hand. The turtles seem to eat whatever humans eat like Biscuits, Water Melon, Murruku etc. etc. Other attractions in the reserve include the Jelutong Tower which is a great view point. Adjoining one edge of the reservoir is the Singapore Island Country Club Golf Course and we can see the golfers teeing off there.

Located in Upper Thomson Road region, the best way to get here is to to get down at Thomson or Novena and take a cab to Upper Thomson Road (Venus Drive) or ask for Singapore Island Country Club.

Golf Club View ..















Can you Spot the Web?















The Tree Top View