*Originally appeared in my other blog.
here is a Live camera
that is pointing to Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland. Click the link
and go to the video. To add more information a thermal camera is also
pointed to the same location. That gives us an idea of volume of plumes
being emited. Cool!
Also if you don't know NASA earth observatory is uploading high quality pictures. They have a feed too.
*
Science is not a belief. It is the truth. How can one deny that? Well, for the science deniers I present this cartoon.
*
I can't believe that still there are fights going on between Evolution and Creationism. Here is a news about an ad that
attacks a Republican candidate for governor in Alabama, Bradley Byrne,
for the horrible crime of defending the teaching of evolution.
Horrible.
*
Friday, July 15, 2011
Eyjafjallajökull Live camera
Seth Godin calls for Linchpins
I have a huge respect for Seth Godin. He is one of the few who steered a
new wave of Contribution Marketing. He is the one who coined the word
Permission Marketing. In case, if you are new, I’ll give you a simple
example.
In e-marketing if you send email to people asking for their permission to send them email then it is called permission marketing. It is a direct opposite for interruption marketing. An analogy for interruption marketing is spam.
There is another type of marketing in which people do marketing by first contributing to the community. Seth Godin continuously insists on contribution. If you own a copy write material, he requests us, to un-copy write it.
He creates ideas and executes them, like Squidoo. He has just released his new book Linchpin and as expected it is making waves.But the intention of this post, is not to just talk about him, but to spread his latest call.
Read more here. Answer the call, if you know anyone. This will give immense pleasure to the person you are referring; a nice way to thank him. Else you could organize similar call in your region.
Also read his Consumer debt is not your friend.
In e-marketing if you send email to people asking for their permission to send them email then it is called permission marketing. It is a direct opposite for interruption marketing. An analogy for interruption marketing is spam.
There is another type of marketing in which people do marketing by first contributing to the community. Seth Godin continuously insists on contribution. If you own a copy write material, he requests us, to un-copy write it.
He creates ideas and executes them, like Squidoo. He has just released his new book Linchpin and as expected it is making waves.But the intention of this post, is not to just talk about him, but to spread his latest call.
If you know someone who does great work, who brings passion and humanity with them instead of leaving it at the door of the factory, I’d like to help you celebrate them. Read on for three ways you can do that--fast and free.
Read more here. Answer the call, if you know anyone. This will give immense pleasure to the person you are referring; a nice way to thank him. Else you could organize similar call in your region.
Also read his Consumer debt is not your friend.
Star gazing : Saturn
*Originally appeared in readnshared.
We have been planning this visit for quite sometime now. But for one reason or another, visit was not possible until the last Friday. We took this opportunity of that free Friday evening and went to Singapore Science Center as planned. We were accompanied by my friend and colleague Sajid. Sajid, himself is an astronaut – well, at least to say astronaut in the making. He reads loads of Carl Sagan and discusses those things then and there with me. He owns a telescope too. He bought it from Malaysia and while entering Singapore, he was heavily interrogated by the customs. He had been noted and I think, his photo is already printed and waiting to be dispatched.
We – my wife Anusha and my baby Srinithi and our astronaut – took 143 from my home and reached Science center with in 10 minutes. I and our astronaut-in-make have never visited this Science Center. Our astronaut in make got excited as we saw that giant dinosaur standing in queue outside McDonalds.
I have never seen a planet and was pretty oblivious to Astronomy. Somehow I had a feeling that Astronomy is similar to Astrology and both them had no significance in common man’s life. But after our astronaut-in-make got a sudden interest in astronomy I had no choice but to follow him. You wouldn’t believe I even tried to read this Carl Sagan thing in Kinokuniya. I felt like a 7th grade student reading atomic physics, anyway in the end I didn’t buy that Cosmos book.
Inside the Science Center there is a restaurant. I forgot the name. But they serve buffet. I guess this is mainly for the people who come to the omni-theater. Lots of people were dining that made it look like a kopitiam. Suddenly I was in a doubt if I had come to the right place. I am supposed to go for Star gazing not food gazing. But the sign board said that I am in correct place.
The place for star gazing is a small back yard kind of garden where 2 or 3 telescopes were mounted. And people stood in queues in front of each telescope. It was very hot and humid and I felt like I was in sauna. I got my turn and saw through the telescope. I took a close look again and again. I had a doubt. There was a guy standing near every telescope to assist and guide you. I guess they were volunteers. I asked my doubt: Fine. I can see a bright white spot, alright. But where are the rings? Saturn certainly has rings, you know? He pardoned my ignorance and continued to explain what I saw. It was not a planet. It is a star named Sirius. And it is 8.7 light years from Earth. Well, I know what a light year is. I am not that stupid. I took a quick second look and asked him: Ok then, where is Saturn?
To see Saturn one must climb the steps and go to the observatory. Our astronaut-in-make has already gone there and was seriously discussing with a volunteer there. People doubted our astronaut-in-make as a volunteer and were asking guidance. Initially due to very less lighting I mistook our astronaut-in-make as a guide and asked him where and how to see Saturn. He told me to go in and continued to chat seriously with that volunteer.
At last with that huge telescope we saw the Saturn. I said wow. Really it was. I felt thrilled. This is the first time I am seeing a planet very closely. The image I saw was a small white ball with white rings. It was not colorful as we see it in National Geographic. It looked white as a ghost. Titan one of the moons of Saturn was also visible. I learnt from our astronaut-in-make that Saturn is fully made of gas and one cannot stand over it. Of course, you cannot stand on gas, can you?
Finally our stargazing session was over. Later I joined the conversation with the volunteer and our astronaut-in-make. My wife asked me whether we can see the Saturn even more closely. I know for sure that you will need an even bigger telescope. The volunteer told that when this star gazing center was built in Singapore before 20 years this was the biggest one. But now there are 2 or 3 telescopes which are bigger than this in Singapore. But mostly those close-look telescopes will be placed in islands like Bahama etc, because in those places light-noise will be very low.
He also added that Jupiter will be very near and it will be clearer than Saturn. But we can see the Jupiter only in August. If possible make a trip to Science Center and take your kids too with you. It will lot of fun. We are waiting for our baby to grow.
Some facts about Saturn: Given by our astronaut-in-make
1. If you manage to put Saturn in a bath tub filled with water, Saturn floats. It is less dense than water.
2. Saturn has the fastest wind. You want to know the speed? Not much just 1160 Km/h
3. Saturn is made up of 91% hydrogen.
4. Saturn’s ring is 72000 Km wide and just half a mile thick. (the fastest wind speed on eareth ever recorded was 231 mph)
5. Saturn’s ring is made of Ice, rocks and who knows what?
6. Saturns volume is 700 or so greater than the earth.
7. Saturn has more number of moons than any other Planet. 63 and still counting.
8. Saturn is the only planet which has a moon (Titan) that has a dense atmosphere like Earth.
9. More on your own.
We have been planning this visit for quite sometime now. But for one reason or another, visit was not possible until the last Friday. We took this opportunity of that free Friday evening and went to Singapore Science Center as planned. We were accompanied by my friend and colleague Sajid. Sajid, himself is an astronaut – well, at least to say astronaut in the making. He reads loads of Carl Sagan and discusses those things then and there with me. He owns a telescope too. He bought it from Malaysia and while entering Singapore, he was heavily interrogated by the customs. He had been noted and I think, his photo is already printed and waiting to be dispatched.
We – my wife Anusha and my baby Srinithi and our astronaut – took 143 from my home and reached Science center with in 10 minutes. I and our astronaut-in-make have never visited this Science Center. Our astronaut in make got excited as we saw that giant dinosaur standing in queue outside McDonalds.
I have never seen a planet and was pretty oblivious to Astronomy. Somehow I had a feeling that Astronomy is similar to Astrology and both them had no significance in common man’s life. But after our astronaut-in-make got a sudden interest in astronomy I had no choice but to follow him. You wouldn’t believe I even tried to read this Carl Sagan thing in Kinokuniya. I felt like a 7th grade student reading atomic physics, anyway in the end I didn’t buy that Cosmos book.
Inside the Science Center there is a restaurant. I forgot the name. But they serve buffet. I guess this is mainly for the people who come to the omni-theater. Lots of people were dining that made it look like a kopitiam. Suddenly I was in a doubt if I had come to the right place. I am supposed to go for Star gazing not food gazing. But the sign board said that I am in correct place.
The place for star gazing is a small back yard kind of garden where 2 or 3 telescopes were mounted. And people stood in queues in front of each telescope. It was very hot and humid and I felt like I was in sauna. I got my turn and saw through the telescope. I took a close look again and again. I had a doubt. There was a guy standing near every telescope to assist and guide you. I guess they were volunteers. I asked my doubt: Fine. I can see a bright white spot, alright. But where are the rings? Saturn certainly has rings, you know? He pardoned my ignorance and continued to explain what I saw. It was not a planet. It is a star named Sirius. And it is 8.7 light years from Earth. Well, I know what a light year is. I am not that stupid. I took a quick second look and asked him: Ok then, where is Saturn?
To see Saturn one must climb the steps and go to the observatory. Our astronaut-in-make has already gone there and was seriously discussing with a volunteer there. People doubted our astronaut-in-make as a volunteer and were asking guidance. Initially due to very less lighting I mistook our astronaut-in-make as a guide and asked him where and how to see Saturn. He told me to go in and continued to chat seriously with that volunteer.
At last with that huge telescope we saw the Saturn. I said wow. Really it was. I felt thrilled. This is the first time I am seeing a planet very closely. The image I saw was a small white ball with white rings. It was not colorful as we see it in National Geographic. It looked white as a ghost. Titan one of the moons of Saturn was also visible. I learnt from our astronaut-in-make that Saturn is fully made of gas and one cannot stand over it. Of course, you cannot stand on gas, can you?
Finally our stargazing session was over. Later I joined the conversation with the volunteer and our astronaut-in-make. My wife asked me whether we can see the Saturn even more closely. I know for sure that you will need an even bigger telescope. The volunteer told that when this star gazing center was built in Singapore before 20 years this was the biggest one. But now there are 2 or 3 telescopes which are bigger than this in Singapore. But mostly those close-look telescopes will be placed in islands like Bahama etc, because in those places light-noise will be very low.
He also added that Jupiter will be very near and it will be clearer than Saturn. But we can see the Jupiter only in August. If possible make a trip to Science Center and take your kids too with you. It will lot of fun. We are waiting for our baby to grow.
Some facts about Saturn: Given by our astronaut-in-make
1. If you manage to put Saturn in a bath tub filled with water, Saturn floats. It is less dense than water.
2. Saturn has the fastest wind. You want to know the speed? Not much just 1160 Km/h
3. Saturn is made up of 91% hydrogen.
4. Saturn’s ring is 72000 Km wide and just half a mile thick. (the fastest wind speed on eareth ever recorded was 231 mph)
5. Saturn’s ring is made of Ice, rocks and who knows what?
6. Saturns volume is 700 or so greater than the earth.
7. Saturn has more number of moons than any other Planet. 63 and still counting.
8. Saturn is the only planet which has a moon (Titan) that has a dense atmosphere like Earth.
9. More on your own.
People still read paper backs
*Originally appeared in readnshared
It’s been a long time since I read a book and really finished it. When I see someone reading a book in train or bus or while waiting in hospital, I feel very jealous of them.
Now I own iPhone. Can you see bright sunlight and heavy snow fall at the same time? Well, I haven’t seen. And I am quite doubt-full about this. One such device is this iPhone. According to me, this is the most stupid and the very best device in the world. I am generally satisfied with the way Apple guys had made this device Internet friendly. Over a period of four years, I have owned a HP iPAQ, O2 Atom Life and a black berry. I have friends who have different hand held devices: dopod, HT, Nokia E series etc. But none of the devices can come in par with the easiness of the iPhone’s browsing capabilities. To make it clear, the hero is the multi-zoom functionality. Each and every device I mentioned in this paragraph have WiFi, but when you try to browse the one thing you browse through is your frustration.
Okie, I am not an ambassador of iPhone. Coming to the point, since I own an iPhone now, I dont think of reading books while I travel. As soon as I board the bus or train I open my google reader or twitter and start browsing the updates of my fellow bloggers and twitters.
So iPhone absorbs most of my reading time. All the book loving fathers of babies with in 1 year have limited reading time; read while you travel. If you drive, hear while you drive.
Today in MRT as I am travelling towards Clementi, after a tiresome day, I saw a man reading something. I am damn sure that it was a novel. I have a very bad habit. If I see some one holding a book, I cannot hold myself from trying to see the name of the book. I tried a lot today to see the name of the book. He knew that I am trying desperately. There was a man standing behind this guy and he was also sneaking and reading this book. And finally this man closed the book very slowly as if he wants to show me the name of the book. He was very kind. The book was One Night at a call Center.
All through his reading, even though he was aware of my presence, he was totally absorbed in the reading. I was closely monitoring his face. I like to see people’s face when they read. He was giving a lot of expression. At times funny and at times funny and shy. Thoroughly he was enjoying his reading.
After all Kindles and iPhones people still read paper backs.
It’s been a long time since I read a book and really finished it. When I see someone reading a book in train or bus or while waiting in hospital, I feel very jealous of them.
Now I own iPhone. Can you see bright sunlight and heavy snow fall at the same time? Well, I haven’t seen. And I am quite doubt-full about this. One such device is this iPhone. According to me, this is the most stupid and the very best device in the world. I am generally satisfied with the way Apple guys had made this device Internet friendly. Over a period of four years, I have owned a HP iPAQ, O2 Atom Life and a black berry. I have friends who have different hand held devices: dopod, HT, Nokia E series etc. But none of the devices can come in par with the easiness of the iPhone’s browsing capabilities. To make it clear, the hero is the multi-zoom functionality. Each and every device I mentioned in this paragraph have WiFi, but when you try to browse the one thing you browse through is your frustration.
Okie, I am not an ambassador of iPhone. Coming to the point, since I own an iPhone now, I dont think of reading books while I travel. As soon as I board the bus or train I open my google reader or twitter and start browsing the updates of my fellow bloggers and twitters.
So iPhone absorbs most of my reading time. All the book loving fathers of babies with in 1 year have limited reading time; read while you travel. If you drive, hear while you drive.
Today in MRT as I am travelling towards Clementi, after a tiresome day, I saw a man reading something. I am damn sure that it was a novel. I have a very bad habit. If I see some one holding a book, I cannot hold myself from trying to see the name of the book. I tried a lot today to see the name of the book. He knew that I am trying desperately. There was a man standing behind this guy and he was also sneaking and reading this book. And finally this man closed the book very slowly as if he wants to show me the name of the book. He was very kind. The book was One Night at a call Center.
All through his reading, even though he was aware of my presence, he was totally absorbed in the reading. I was closely monitoring his face. I like to see people’s face when they read. He was giving a lot of expression. At times funny and at times funny and shy. Thoroughly he was enjoying his reading.
After all Kindles and iPhones people still read paper backs.
Chronicles of a poor guy with IRCTC.CO.IN
*Originally appeared in my other blog readnshared.wordpress.com on 28 Sep 2009
I had a hell of a time booking tickets using IRCTC.co.in today morning and yesterday evening. What frustrated me was that poorly informed already frustrated 24 hr customer service department of IRCTC. You can get that message very well from the customer support guy as soon as he picks up your call and say “hello” in a very dull voice. Congratulations, your night mare has just started now.
It’s been a while I booked tickets using IRCTC – almost 1 year. I was in an urgency yesterday evening that I must book the ticket with in that evening; tickets were getting sold out quickly like Rajni’s opening show movie tickets. I must hurry up. But this IRCTC site is getting crashed once in a while. There is a new Ajax thing they have implemented in selection of station, you type the city name (slowly) and you can see an animation of moving circle with in the textbox meaning system is trying to pick up the stations that matches the letters you have just typed. Be quick and type fast and use tab to move to the next box – and there the site crashes and you have been kicked out just now. You must log in back again.
And I must tell something about the Payment Gateways. I have never used such poor payment gateways in my life. CITI PG or ICICI PG – both sucks. IRCTC must consider sacking them. Only AXIS PG works. Here I must say that I am not any ambassador for Axis bank and honestly I have no clue about the bank. So always use Axis PG. One of my friends sadly remarked that one must use ICICI PG continuously for 5 or 6 times – only then it works. Man, we are talking about e-business. This involves money, transaction and more than everything trust. How can IRCTC allow this unacceptable behavior?
Then there is one more thing: when you wanted to check any of your history of transactions you are asked for your password. Oh my, give me a break. IRCTC, I understand your commitment towards providing us utmost security. But believe me this is absurd. I am clicking now on a history menu. You are asking for password. OK. Alright. I am clicking on the same menu again immediately. Again you are asking for the same password. Don’t ask me why am I clicking the same menu again immediately. We are customers. Customers behave weirdly. There are lot of smart ways to implement security with out frustrating your customers. Even though you are a government company, customers are still customers right? Learn web usability. If not do this at-least (hallway usability testing).
Some one books a ticket for his entire family. His family includes 10 persons. This poor guy key in all the details of his family members and proceeds to buy the ticket. Now because of innumerous problems with the payment gateways there is 99.9% of chances for his purchase to fail. After few minutes of staring at screens getting refreshed back and forth this poor guy sees a screen that says his transaction is incomplete because of
a. his choice of berth is not available
b. there is not enough money in his account
c. card expiry date is wrong
and the list goes on.
Choice of berth?! Lower, Upper or Middle? Honestly don’t you guys have a way to validate it and fix it before proceeding for payment. Suppose that poor guy has asked for at-least 2 berths, don’t you have a way to find out if his choice of berth is available or not before proceeding for payment?
About not enough money and card expiry – we will come to it later very soon. I suggest IRCTC to add some more reasons for failed transaction like “tea boy will not be available for your coach” or “your choice of train is not available on your choice of date” or I leave it to your imagination guys.
For what ever reason this poor guys ticket booking has doomed. OK. Alright. For re-booking why he must select all the details again? Why don’t you keep the information saved and give it to him? Usability man, Usability.
Ok apparently there is a change in the way purchase through credit card (visa or master) happens in IRCTC. Now in order to provide more security to the customers IRCTC requires all VISA cards to be securely verified. Now what is “securely verified by VISA”? Google it guys. Ok they have put that message in the ticket booking page. Ok they have given in red and bold. I overlooked it. I apologize.
I have not registered by visa card for verification. And I proceeded for payment. Every thing goes on smoothly (screen refreshes automatically back and forth) until I see a message back in IRCTC saying transaction is not successful may be because
1) not enough money in your card
2) or invalid expiry date.
What the hell does a poor buyer (mind it IRCTC: your customer) deduce from this message? Obviously he knows that he has enough money in his card. So he thinks that problem is because he has mistakenly keyed in the expiry date of his card. This poor guy (ya, that’s me) again proceeds for payment – now carefully keying in his expiry date. Again the same stupid error message. Now this guy seriously thinks about his balance in his credit card. He calls his banker – Customer service.
Customer service guys, now I would like to give you a serious advice. When a customer gives you a problem, first try to hear the problem and try to understand the problem. And analyze the problem. And only then you can deduce a result or a solution. Don’t ever jump in to a solution. Head start is not good always.
This diners club customer service guy asked my personal details for verification and finally told me that “If you are seeing not enough money in your card then your card does not have enough money to complete the transaction” What an explanation? I have enough knowledge of English. I can very well understand this sentence. Does your company pays you to just repeat the same sentence I told you? Or did I call you at 11:30 PM in the night to just hear you repeat my problem? Guys think and analyze your customer’s problem. And think rationally please.
Obviously I had enough money in my card. Then what’s the problem? This poor guy does not know. He says he didn’t get transaction request from the merchant. So he asked me to enquire the merchant. Before this conversation I had already used Citibank card too. No luck.
I called the merchant: IRCTC customer service number. A guy picked up. Just from his hello you can very well say about his mood. He is clearly frustrated. May be because he is working when his friends are celebrating Vijaya Thasamy today. I honestly don’t have a clue. After listening to the problem apparently he gave a reply that “your bank doesn’t release money” What the hell? I patiently told him that I have already enquired with the bank and they are telling that they didn’t get any transaction request from the merchant that is you.
He didn’t try to investigate the problem and he utterly said this is not his problem (obviously) and told (almost accused) me that I have called a wrong number (Kid, your company has given only this number for 24 hr customer support- look here) and asked me to call a different number. And when I tried to explain things he dumped me! Yes he cut the call. He has just now cut a customer. But no worries this is a government company. This poor customer must use this website to book his ticket. So this customer is really not cut-off. He will somehow find his way out. So he can go back to chit-chatter with his friends or even he can answer another customer’s call and behave rudely again.
I tried to call the same number again. I got no choice. The tickets are getting sold out. You know about southern railways in India. If you don’t know there is an excellent documentary from BBC. I must hurry and fix this problem. I cannot use local Indian bank account. Because I don’t have money in the account. Oh don’t feel sorry. Never mind.
I called the same 24 hr customer support number given by IRCTC hoping this time some one else other than that frustrated guy will answer my call. After an automated welcome message the line went dead. I am calling from Singapore. I tried again. An automated welcome message. Line is dead. Again. Automated message. Line dead.
I got no choice. I must fix this. I again called by bank’s customer service.One thing I like with customer service in Singapore’s bank is they never dump you. They never cut your call. Attitude man. Attitude. Learn from them. Honestly you have got tons to learn from Singapore’s customer service. She doesn’t have a clue. She kept on saying that the bank didn’t get any transaction request from the merchant. But she didn’t dump me. She is finding a way to help me out. At-last I changed my question: Is there any other problem other than this? I mean do you have any other new rule for purchase using VISA? Think lady. Think. Yes she got it. I must have my card verified by visa, if a merchant requires this.
Now back to that frustrated customer service guy sitting before that dump terminal in IRCTC: why didn’t you know about this? Are you not trained enough to handle this situation? Apparently this “verified by visa” is a new requirement that’s why you have given the message in bold red. If this is a new requirement aren’t you taught to handle the customers with weird problems like I had yesterday? Even if you are not taught about this can’t you think rationally to help sort out this problem? After all this “verified by visa” is a new requirement by your site. Pity you that you cannot sort out this simple problem.
Even after I registered my VISA card with “Verified by VISA” program using CITIBANK’s site, I still cannot book the ticket from IRCTC. I used CITI PG and ICICI PG. No luck. Same message like “Payment unsuccessful: no funds or invalid expiry date”. Go to hell.
Since I was unable to reach the 24 hr customer service of IRCTC I can only call my bank’s customer service. She felt pity on me and advised to leave this and kindly asked me to go to sleep (time was 1AM) and try it out in the morning. That was sensible.
In the morning I was discussing this with my friends here and they are totally ignorant of “Verified by Visa” process and they are fully aware of repeated transaction failure from ICICI PG and CITI PG. One of friends asked me to keep on trying 5 or 6 times only then you will have luck. Then he suddenly asked me to try AXIS PG.
I tried, it worked. AXIS PG is working like a charm. Smooth as a breeze. And all of a sudden every thing is smooth after a bumpy hell of a ride for more than 3 hrs.
I had a hell of a time booking tickets using IRCTC.co.in today morning and yesterday evening. What frustrated me was that poorly informed already frustrated 24 hr customer service department of IRCTC. You can get that message very well from the customer support guy as soon as he picks up your call and say “hello” in a very dull voice. Congratulations, your night mare has just started now.
It’s been a while I booked tickets using IRCTC – almost 1 year. I was in an urgency yesterday evening that I must book the ticket with in that evening; tickets were getting sold out quickly like Rajni’s opening show movie tickets. I must hurry up. But this IRCTC site is getting crashed once in a while. There is a new Ajax thing they have implemented in selection of station, you type the city name (slowly) and you can see an animation of moving circle with in the textbox meaning system is trying to pick up the stations that matches the letters you have just typed. Be quick and type fast and use tab to move to the next box – and there the site crashes and you have been kicked out just now. You must log in back again.
And I must tell something about the Payment Gateways. I have never used such poor payment gateways in my life. CITI PG or ICICI PG – both sucks. IRCTC must consider sacking them. Only AXIS PG works. Here I must say that I am not any ambassador for Axis bank and honestly I have no clue about the bank. So always use Axis PG. One of my friends sadly remarked that one must use ICICI PG continuously for 5 or 6 times – only then it works. Man, we are talking about e-business. This involves money, transaction and more than everything trust. How can IRCTC allow this unacceptable behavior?
Then there is one more thing: when you wanted to check any of your history of transactions you are asked for your password. Oh my, give me a break. IRCTC, I understand your commitment towards providing us utmost security. But believe me this is absurd. I am clicking now on a history menu. You are asking for password. OK. Alright. I am clicking on the same menu again immediately. Again you are asking for the same password. Don’t ask me why am I clicking the same menu again immediately. We are customers. Customers behave weirdly. There are lot of smart ways to implement security with out frustrating your customers. Even though you are a government company, customers are still customers right? Learn web usability. If not do this at-least (hallway usability testing).
Some one books a ticket for his entire family. His family includes 10 persons. This poor guy key in all the details of his family members and proceeds to buy the ticket. Now because of innumerous problems with the payment gateways there is 99.9% of chances for his purchase to fail. After few minutes of staring at screens getting refreshed back and forth this poor guy sees a screen that says his transaction is incomplete because of
a. his choice of berth is not available
b. there is not enough money in his account
c. card expiry date is wrong
and the list goes on.
Choice of berth?! Lower, Upper or Middle? Honestly don’t you guys have a way to validate it and fix it before proceeding for payment. Suppose that poor guy has asked for at-least 2 berths, don’t you have a way to find out if his choice of berth is available or not before proceeding for payment?
About not enough money and card expiry – we will come to it later very soon. I suggest IRCTC to add some more reasons for failed transaction like “tea boy will not be available for your coach” or “your choice of train is not available on your choice of date” or I leave it to your imagination guys.
For what ever reason this poor guys ticket booking has doomed. OK. Alright. For re-booking why he must select all the details again? Why don’t you keep the information saved and give it to him? Usability man, Usability.
Ok apparently there is a change in the way purchase through credit card (visa or master) happens in IRCTC. Now in order to provide more security to the customers IRCTC requires all VISA cards to be securely verified. Now what is “securely verified by VISA”? Google it guys. Ok they have put that message in the ticket booking page. Ok they have given in red and bold. I overlooked it. I apologize.
I have not registered by visa card for verification. And I proceeded for payment. Every thing goes on smoothly (screen refreshes automatically back and forth) until I see a message back in IRCTC saying transaction is not successful may be because
1) not enough money in your card
2) or invalid expiry date.
What the hell does a poor buyer (mind it IRCTC: your customer) deduce from this message? Obviously he knows that he has enough money in his card. So he thinks that problem is because he has mistakenly keyed in the expiry date of his card. This poor guy (ya, that’s me) again proceeds for payment – now carefully keying in his expiry date. Again the same stupid error message. Now this guy seriously thinks about his balance in his credit card. He calls his banker – Customer service.
Customer service guys, now I would like to give you a serious advice. When a customer gives you a problem, first try to hear the problem and try to understand the problem. And analyze the problem. And only then you can deduce a result or a solution. Don’t ever jump in to a solution. Head start is not good always.
This diners club customer service guy asked my personal details for verification and finally told me that “If you are seeing not enough money in your card then your card does not have enough money to complete the transaction” What an explanation? I have enough knowledge of English. I can very well understand this sentence. Does your company pays you to just repeat the same sentence I told you? Or did I call you at 11:30 PM in the night to just hear you repeat my problem? Guys think and analyze your customer’s problem. And think rationally please.
Obviously I had enough money in my card. Then what’s the problem? This poor guy does not know. He says he didn’t get transaction request from the merchant. So he asked me to enquire the merchant. Before this conversation I had already used Citibank card too. No luck.
I called the merchant: IRCTC customer service number. A guy picked up. Just from his hello you can very well say about his mood. He is clearly frustrated. May be because he is working when his friends are celebrating Vijaya Thasamy today. I honestly don’t have a clue. After listening to the problem apparently he gave a reply that “your bank doesn’t release money” What the hell? I patiently told him that I have already enquired with the bank and they are telling that they didn’t get any transaction request from the merchant that is you.
He didn’t try to investigate the problem and he utterly said this is not his problem (obviously) and told (almost accused) me that I have called a wrong number (Kid, your company has given only this number for 24 hr customer support- look here) and asked me to call a different number. And when I tried to explain things he dumped me! Yes he cut the call. He has just now cut a customer. But no worries this is a government company. This poor customer must use this website to book his ticket. So this customer is really not cut-off. He will somehow find his way out. So he can go back to chit-chatter with his friends or even he can answer another customer’s call and behave rudely again.
I tried to call the same number again. I got no choice. The tickets are getting sold out. You know about southern railways in India. If you don’t know there is an excellent documentary from BBC. I must hurry and fix this problem. I cannot use local Indian bank account. Because I don’t have money in the account. Oh don’t feel sorry. Never mind.
I called the same 24 hr customer support number given by IRCTC hoping this time some one else other than that frustrated guy will answer my call. After an automated welcome message the line went dead. I am calling from Singapore. I tried again. An automated welcome message. Line is dead. Again. Automated message. Line dead.
I got no choice. I must fix this. I again called by bank’s customer service.One thing I like with customer service in Singapore’s bank is they never dump you. They never cut your call. Attitude man. Attitude. Learn from them. Honestly you have got tons to learn from Singapore’s customer service. She doesn’t have a clue. She kept on saying that the bank didn’t get any transaction request from the merchant. But she didn’t dump me. She is finding a way to help me out. At-last I changed my question: Is there any other problem other than this? I mean do you have any other new rule for purchase using VISA? Think lady. Think. Yes she got it. I must have my card verified by visa, if a merchant requires this.
Now back to that frustrated customer service guy sitting before that dump terminal in IRCTC: why didn’t you know about this? Are you not trained enough to handle this situation? Apparently this “verified by visa” is a new requirement that’s why you have given the message in bold red. If this is a new requirement aren’t you taught to handle the customers with weird problems like I had yesterday? Even if you are not taught about this can’t you think rationally to help sort out this problem? After all this “verified by visa” is a new requirement by your site. Pity you that you cannot sort out this simple problem.
Even after I registered my VISA card with “Verified by VISA” program using CITIBANK’s site, I still cannot book the ticket from IRCTC. I used CITI PG and ICICI PG. No luck. Same message like “Payment unsuccessful: no funds or invalid expiry date”. Go to hell.
Since I was unable to reach the 24 hr customer service of IRCTC I can only call my bank’s customer service. She felt pity on me and advised to leave this and kindly asked me to go to sleep (time was 1AM) and try it out in the morning. That was sensible.
In the morning I was discussing this with my friends here and they are totally ignorant of “Verified by Visa” process and they are fully aware of repeated transaction failure from ICICI PG and CITI PG. One of friends asked me to keep on trying 5 or 6 times only then you will have luck. Then he suddenly asked me to try AXIS PG.
I tried, it worked. AXIS PG is working like a charm. Smooth as a breeze. And all of a sudden every thing is smooth after a bumpy hell of a ride for more than 3 hrs.
Gordon Brown and Apple vs Adobe
Gordon Brown has stepped down
at last. Oh no don’t worry I am not going to write politics now. But it
is a kind of Poetic line that has something do with Gardon Brown and
the hung parliament. I read this line in yesterday’s Guardian. This guy describes the coalition as below:
You could have read Steve Jobs take on Flash. And scribd has shed its flash and opted for HTML5. So the Flash vs Apple war is at its heights now.
Non-technical readers please bear with me for a minute. But one thing I don’t understand is the “future” part. You Tube and few other video sites have rolled out their beta versions in HTML5. It is obvious that HTML5 is coming. But the question is “when”? It might take 2 years for HTML5 to be used widely. So until then does Jobs expect people to live with flashless iPhone?
Also do you guys see that Microsoft and Apple getting closer? They are not a good couple but why not? Jobs slashes Flash and Microsoft backs him. Oh, there comes the cliché enemy of your enemy becomes your friend.
Microsoft has considerably invested in Silverlight and it considers and proposes to use Silverlight instead of Flash. So when Jobs trash Flash Microsoft has got no choice but just to applaud.
I heard that from next generation of iPhone the default search engine would be Bing and not Google. News guys!
Adobe has joined hands with Google. Why Google? Google has got Android and Android according to statistics has bet iPhone on sales in US. Android looks promising and Adobe thinks that Android is the potential rival for iPhone.
And such it goes.
*
Originally appeared in my other blog!
a rainbow coalition made up of every colour except Brown*
You could have read Steve Jobs take on Flash. And scribd has shed its flash and opted for HTML5. So the Flash vs Apple war is at its heights now.
Non-technical readers please bear with me for a minute. But one thing I don’t understand is the “future” part. You Tube and few other video sites have rolled out their beta versions in HTML5. It is obvious that HTML5 is coming. But the question is “when”? It might take 2 years for HTML5 to be used widely. So until then does Jobs expect people to live with flashless iPhone?
Also do you guys see that Microsoft and Apple getting closer? They are not a good couple but why not? Jobs slashes Flash and Microsoft backs him. Oh, there comes the cliché enemy of your enemy becomes your friend.
Microsoft has considerably invested in Silverlight and it considers and proposes to use Silverlight instead of Flash. So when Jobs trash Flash Microsoft has got no choice but just to applaud.
I heard that from next generation of iPhone the default search engine would be Bing and not Google. News guys!
Adobe has joined hands with Google. Why Google? Google has got Android and Android according to statistics has bet iPhone on sales in US. Android looks promising and Adobe thinks that Android is the potential rival for iPhone.
And such it goes.
*
Originally appeared in my other blog!
Few Hindi Movies
In Paris, as I am stuck up only with Star Gold, Z Cinema, B4U and Zing, I
got no options except to watch Hindi movies and Hindi songs. I must
admit that I was not in touch with much of Hindi cinema except for a few
smash hits like Rang De Basanti, Black, Devdas etc.
I think it is time to catch up. J
Over the past 2 week ends I was watching loads of Hindi movies and to my surprise each one of them were of different genre. The actors are matured. There is no over acting – except in very few cases. There are no punch lines. There are no car-wind-shield-smashing fights. No ordinary-hero-fight-like-superhero stuff. No stupid romance songs backed up by angels-of-love chorus raga. No unwanted item number songs. At least I didn’t see all of these in the 10 some movies I got to watch.
Mein Meri Pati Aur woh – is a nice feel good movie. This is the first movie that made me switch over to Star Gold from National Geographic and very much boring BBC news. This movie is about a short guy who gets to marry a beautiful woman. This guy has huge inferiority complex and he doubts that his wife may leave him or to put it differently he fears that some hand some guy might take his wife away from him. But people around him are quite nice and are just minding their business. He creates lots of tricks to solve the problems those actually don’t exist. He doubts his wife but he loves her a lot and just don’t know that she too loves him very much. I began to like Rajpal Yadav.
Shoot out at Lokhandwala – is a great movie about a real life shoot out. It is based up on the 1991 Lokahndwala complex shoot out. What a star cast it was! Amitab bachan, Sunil Shetty, Vivek, Sanjay Dutt and Abhisek. This kind of mulit-starer movie is really very hard to find in Tamil movies.And if at all anything is ventured then it would be dropped later or the actors would get in to a cold war after the end of the movie and they vow to press that they would never act together again! I must say that I was shocked to see Abhishek in a very small role and he had done a perfect job. Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty were excellent too.
Baghban – is again a good movie. This movie is about relationship between parents and their grown up children. Amitabh and Hemamalini acted as parents.The love between the parents – even in their old age is shown in a great way. It is emotional to see Amitabh got separated from his wife and got to stay in one of his son’s house longing for his wife’s love. There are loads of movies of this kind in Tamil –mostly done by Siavji, but this kind of movie is very hard to see these days. Anyway Salman really was over acting. It is almost laughable to see Salman sing prayers to Amitabh’s photo.I think the director had run out of ideas.
- originally appeared in my other blog readnshare.wordpress.com
I think it is time to catch up. J
Over the past 2 week ends I was watching loads of Hindi movies and to my surprise each one of them were of different genre. The actors are matured. There is no over acting – except in very few cases. There are no punch lines. There are no car-wind-shield-smashing fights. No ordinary-hero-fight-like-superhero stuff. No stupid romance songs backed up by angels-of-love chorus raga. No unwanted item number songs. At least I didn’t see all of these in the 10 some movies I got to watch.
Mein Meri Pati Aur woh – is a nice feel good movie. This is the first movie that made me switch over to Star Gold from National Geographic and very much boring BBC news. This movie is about a short guy who gets to marry a beautiful woman. This guy has huge inferiority complex and he doubts that his wife may leave him or to put it differently he fears that some hand some guy might take his wife away from him. But people around him are quite nice and are just minding their business. He creates lots of tricks to solve the problems those actually don’t exist. He doubts his wife but he loves her a lot and just don’t know that she too loves him very much. I began to like Rajpal Yadav.
Shoot out at Lokhandwala – is a great movie about a real life shoot out. It is based up on the 1991 Lokahndwala complex shoot out. What a star cast it was! Amitab bachan, Sunil Shetty, Vivek, Sanjay Dutt and Abhisek. This kind of mulit-starer movie is really very hard to find in Tamil movies.And if at all anything is ventured then it would be dropped later or the actors would get in to a cold war after the end of the movie and they vow to press that they would never act together again! I must say that I was shocked to see Abhishek in a very small role and he had done a perfect job. Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty were excellent too.
Baghban – is again a good movie. This movie is about relationship between parents and their grown up children. Amitabh and Hemamalini acted as parents.The love between the parents – even in their old age is shown in a great way. It is emotional to see Amitabh got separated from his wife and got to stay in one of his son’s house longing for his wife’s love. There are loads of movies of this kind in Tamil –mostly done by Siavji, but this kind of movie is very hard to see these days. Anyway Salman really was over acting. It is almost laughable to see Salman sing prayers to Amitabh’s photo.I think the director had run out of ideas.
- originally appeared in my other blog readnshare.wordpress.com
The new jobs created by terrorists
Day before yesterday I was watching CNN news early in the morning and
was waiting for the Judge’s announcement of the name of the guy who was
arrested in the airport in connections with the bomb blast plan and was
much pleased to see that these terrorists are creating new jobs.
I came to know about 2 new (at least to me) weird job titles: Terror Expert and Terrorism Analyst.
There are guys who are talking – talking a lot – in CNN about the bomb blasts and when they appear on the screen they have their name displayed under which their job title is also displayed. How will he ever introduce himself to others professionally?
“Hey Mike, Nice to meet you. I am blah blah blah working as Terror Expert..” Sounds weird. But that’s how the world works.
My friend suggested that in future there is a possibility that you could have Terrorism Man like you have Weather Man. And there will be a map displayed in the screen showing parts of the world where there could be a bomb blast today or tomorrow or perhaps a weekly forecast: Terrorism Forecast.
So when you see this terrorism forecast in the TV news, you cannot just take an umbrella with you as you do when you know there is a possibility of bad weather. No, umbrellas cannot protect you from bombs.
You must buy Terrorism Insurance.
- Originally appeared in my other blog readnshared.wordpress.com
I came to know about 2 new (at least to me) weird job titles: Terror Expert and Terrorism Analyst.
There are guys who are talking – talking a lot – in CNN about the bomb blasts and when they appear on the screen they have their name displayed under which their job title is also displayed. How will he ever introduce himself to others professionally?
“Hey Mike, Nice to meet you. I am blah blah blah working as Terror Expert..” Sounds weird. But that’s how the world works.
My friend suggested that in future there is a possibility that you could have Terrorism Man like you have Weather Man. And there will be a map displayed in the screen showing parts of the world where there could be a bomb blast today or tomorrow or perhaps a weekly forecast: Terrorism Forecast.
So when you see this terrorism forecast in the TV news, you cannot just take an umbrella with you as you do when you know there is a possibility of bad weather. No, umbrellas cannot protect you from bombs.
You must buy Terrorism Insurance.
- Originally appeared in my other blog readnshared.wordpress.com
Karthik Calling Karthik
Again B4U this time I fell for this song: Uff Teri Ada.
I loved this song from day 1. I wanted to see this movie just for this
song. I am not a big fan of bollywood songs but this one knocked me out.
Watch this, once more for the beats.
When I bought this DVD
today I was thinking that this is going to be a usual bollywood love
story but with technical excellence as I have seen and heard the songs.
But man, believe me this movie is such a rock n roll ride that if you
are watching this lying down flat on the couch then you are will get up
and sit more than once.
Karthik calling Karthik, the title
says everything. One of my friends here just saw the cover and did a
wild guess that it is a double act movie. Man, come out of MGR movies
and seriously have you ever watched Anniyan?! Oh please, apply the
lessons learnt. J
I
don’t want to say the story here; you can always see the Wikipedia for
the plot. But please don’t do that; you will miss loads of fun. It is
not only the story that is gripping but it is everything else; the
romance between Farhan and Deepika, mild humour that runs together with
the serious dialogues; you will miss them if you don’t listen properly,
music, cinematography and the characters themselves.
So how
exactly can Karthik call Karthik, if this event is witnessed by someone
else other than Karthik himself? Actually 2 characters witness this
strange event one the Psychiatrist and the other being Deepika. How can
it happen?
And can you believe that this movie is Vijay Lalwani’s directorial debut?
I highly recommend this movie.
*Originally appeared in my other blog
Rann
I picked up this movie after seeing its trailer in B4U. I like Ram Gopal Varma right from his very first movie Shiva.
I saw this movie in Tamil as Udhayam (Rise). I was studying sixth or
seventh or even a lower grade, I don’t exactly remember. But at that
time, my dream was to become a guy like Nagarjuna (the hero in the
movie) and wanted to throw hot tea on ones face in case he meddles with
my life. Funny but lots of Indian kids dream of becoming a hero.
I
read in a magazine that this movie is a flop. So what? Surely,this
movie is a standing example –among lot of other movies –for the fact
that a movie can be great even though it bombed at the box office. I
accept that the movie is predictable and the characters are not very
much interesting. But the movie carries a strong message –never believe
what you see in the TV channels, particularly news.
Quite a
few fellas of my state have got this message long before and have
stopped watching prominent news channels. The channels are biased to
their political parties. People know this and channels know that people
know and they really don’t care, both of them. The channels continue to
show biased news and people continue to watch. It is so complicated.
What
happens if a powerful TV channel conspires with a bad politician and a
rich and equally bad industrialist? Money+Power+Media? That is what this
movie speaks of.
Amitabh did well as usual but it is Sudeep
and Paresh Rawal who steal the show. I have begun to like Sudheep. He
has got a style. Amit Roy’s cinematography is very stylish and the
narration by RGV is excellent. I think he is back on track.
On the whole it is a perfect film for those who want to see something different from an usual masala.
On the whole it is a perfect film for those who want to see something different from an usual masala.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sleeping Umpires and Cheating Australia
*This post originally appeared in my other blog on January 6, 2008
Wrong decisions in Cricket might cost a country a match. And that’s why we have technology. Then why the hell you need sophisticated technologies and a third umpire? If you are sleeping in the ground, and missed some action, you umpires, must consult the third umpire. There is no shame in consulting the third umpire. After all, you too are a human, and there is no shame in sleeping while working. That happens always.
Steve Bucknor, in the on going second match in Border – Gavaskar trophy, between India and Australia, failed to give out for Symonds. He was stumped and the video clearly showed that his leg is in the air. Steve Bucknor, with his huge experience, must have known that, if the batsman’s leg is in the air, during the action of stumping, he should be given out. Unfortunately he forgot that. No problem. In that case, he should have consulted the third umpire. Whats wrong with consulting third umpire? Steve Bucknor, now tell me, are you not in talking terms with the third umpire. If that is the problem, let us know, we can easily sort that out. And after a good lunch, if you feel a bit drowsy, take a nap, that’s not a sin. But accept that you have drooled and consult the third umpire for crucial decision. Don’t spoil the match. Because I have subscribed and paying 30$ just to hear your stupid snore.
And today on the final day of the second match, it happened again. Now the umpire is not Bucknor, the bad decision is from MR Benson from England. Ok now, all the umpires in the world, lineup and conspire against India. I don’t know what has got in to their mind. The stupid decision repeated again. Again the decision is against India. And it is against Ganguly. Clarke just fielded the ball. Its not a good catch. Its good fielding, that’s it. Nothing more than that. But that guy, Clarke, acted as if had tried hard and caught that ball. . Anyway that’s a good acting, supported by Ricky Ponting. Obviously, Ricky Ponting wants to win that match, so that he can increase his count of consecutive wins. Apparently he didn’t forgot the bad experience he got in India, in 2001. India stopped the so called non-stoppable Australia. India put an end to their stupid march. Ricky Ponting is realy scared now. He doesn’t want to be stopped. But he forgot an obvious fact that, you cannot go on and on, for ever. If you wish that, I tell you what, don’t schedule a match with India.
The video replay cleared showed that ball touched the ground, before Clarke got hold of it. Even after that, after getting the ball in his hand, Clarke rolled over, to prove that the catch is taken, and put the ball to the ground. He fielded the ball, rolled over, dug a pit in the ground, put the ball in that pit and stands up to celeberate his pit-digging-ball-putting action. That is clear in the video. Ganguly had seen that. And he waits for the thid umpire decision. But this umpire, who obviously, had missed all the pit-digging-ball-putting action, immediately says Ganguly is out. And he consults Ponting. Ricky Ponting raises his hand to Ganguly and says he is out. Who is the umpire? Benson or Ponting?
ICC must come out of their sleep and must punish the umpires. When a player is punished for questioning the umpires, who will punish the umpires, giving wrong decisions?
Wrong decisions in Cricket might cost a country a match. And that’s why we have technology. Then why the hell you need sophisticated technologies and a third umpire? If you are sleeping in the ground, and missed some action, you umpires, must consult the third umpire. There is no shame in consulting the third umpire. After all, you too are a human, and there is no shame in sleeping while working. That happens always.
Steve Bucknor, in the on going second match in Border – Gavaskar trophy, between India and Australia, failed to give out for Symonds. He was stumped and the video clearly showed that his leg is in the air. Steve Bucknor, with his huge experience, must have known that, if the batsman’s leg is in the air, during the action of stumping, he should be given out. Unfortunately he forgot that. No problem. In that case, he should have consulted the third umpire. Whats wrong with consulting third umpire? Steve Bucknor, now tell me, are you not in talking terms with the third umpire. If that is the problem, let us know, we can easily sort that out. And after a good lunch, if you feel a bit drowsy, take a nap, that’s not a sin. But accept that you have drooled and consult the third umpire for crucial decision. Don’t spoil the match. Because I have subscribed and paying 30$ just to hear your stupid snore.
And today on the final day of the second match, it happened again. Now the umpire is not Bucknor, the bad decision is from MR Benson from England. Ok now, all the umpires in the world, lineup and conspire against India. I don’t know what has got in to their mind. The stupid decision repeated again. Again the decision is against India. And it is against Ganguly. Clarke just fielded the ball. Its not a good catch. Its good fielding, that’s it. Nothing more than that. But that guy, Clarke, acted as if had tried hard and caught that ball. . Anyway that’s a good acting, supported by Ricky Ponting. Obviously, Ricky Ponting wants to win that match, so that he can increase his count of consecutive wins. Apparently he didn’t forgot the bad experience he got in India, in 2001. India stopped the so called non-stoppable Australia. India put an end to their stupid march. Ricky Ponting is realy scared now. He doesn’t want to be stopped. But he forgot an obvious fact that, you cannot go on and on, for ever. If you wish that, I tell you what, don’t schedule a match with India.
The video replay cleared showed that ball touched the ground, before Clarke got hold of it. Even after that, after getting the ball in his hand, Clarke rolled over, to prove that the catch is taken, and put the ball to the ground. He fielded the ball, rolled over, dug a pit in the ground, put the ball in that pit and stands up to celeberate his pit-digging-ball-putting action. That is clear in the video. Ganguly had seen that. And he waits for the thid umpire decision. But this umpire, who obviously, had missed all the pit-digging-ball-putting action, immediately says Ganguly is out. And he consults Ponting. Ricky Ponting raises his hand to Ganguly and says he is out. Who is the umpire? Benson or Ponting?
ICC must come out of their sleep and must punish the umpires. When a player is punished for questioning the umpires, who will punish the umpires, giving wrong decisions?
Kids and Dreams
*This post originally appeared in my other blog on January 23, 2008
I was reading this book, The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, in the train, as I returned from my office. It’s a long journey, back to home. Almost 45 minutes. I average 40 pages per hour. So I would read 60-70 pages a day in the train. So obviously I am reading a lot these days. I don’t read a thing at home – let alone the novels. I am not going to say anything about The Lovely Bones now, in this post. By the way, if you had known about this novel, probably you would have also known that Peter Jackson’s next project is The Lovely Bones, being starred by Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz. I like Mark Wahlberg in a way, particularly in The Departed. I enjoy the scene in which he irritates De Caprio by questioning. He has got a character. When I was reading this novel, The Lovely Bones, I came across a line that triggered my thoughts. The girl named Susie Salmon who is the central character in the novel, wishes a career. She dreams of a career – A Wild Life Photographer. When we were Kids our dreams were entirely different. Our ambitions were high. Our hopes were Ideal. We thought anything is possible. But as age falls over us, we realize our potential. We define reals. We draw lines, circles and rectangles. And we stay with in those structures defined by us from that time onwards. Forever. Kids are always the same, where ever they are. Indian kids too have different career dreams. Apart from those whole lot induced dreams of becoming Doctors and Engineers, some still dream of becoming Reporter, Photographer, Gardenist, zoo keepers etc. But as the time flows by, they become software engineers.What ever they study, electricals, electronics, mechanical, civil, whatever, they become software engineers. They get inputs from the endusers for First Name and Last Name and then, they store to the databases. Of course, they write the program to retrieve those details too. |
Ventures
*This post originally appeared in my other blog on March 30, 2008
The Godfather of Google’s cash cow AdSense, Gokul Rajaraman is starting up a new venture named ChaiLabs. He is yet to unveil the secret of what this new venture is about. But there is a lot of anticipation already. I am breaking my head – well, virtually – to guess what this ChaiLabs is about. I don’t have a clue.
And when I and my friends were talking about this, the topic suddenly turned towards Shabir Bhatiya. And when I checked his latest ventures, there are a lot. Like BlogEveryWhere, SabSe Bolo and LiveDocuments. I don’t know what is so unique about Sabse Bolo. After all, the buzz is about conference calls and the calling charges apply. May be I am too naïve to understand this, may be one of you will explain me. But this Live Documents has got a gloss, I guess. For a long time this protection of word documents is challenging and too weak. With this Live Documents, that can be a breeze. The documents can be protected with the accounts from Live Documents. You will be able to open the document only if you have account with Live Documents and then, obviously the author of the document must include your account in AUL list. In that way, the document could be protected in a way, for sure. This entire Live Documents is built upon Office, as they say. But it would be a hard fight for Live Documents, with the web2.0 providers like Google and Zoho.
Zoho has already introduced building applications online and it’s a breeze to create an application, mainly data gathering something link polls and all. I tried it and created a data form to gather data against Indian Airlines.
Apple has launched video rental, and I see a similar effort – well in early stage – from Rhydun. Rhydun is a product of MusicIndiaOnLine. You can listen to songs online. Of course, you can choose your songs. The quality is good, as they claim. And importantly there are surveys asking: how much will you pay and money related questions. I can guess where it will lead to.
There are lots of ventures. Like chailabs I may go for ParottaLabs. There is a considerable market for parotta (Rotti-Cenai) in Malaysia and Singapore. Like pizzahut I may go for RottiHut. Online parotta ordering and delivering. Sounds good, huh? I came across HeyMonkeyBrain.com – a venture from Squidoo. They (Seth, in particular) say it is the fastest growing internet company. But I am not sure, what he mentions! HeyMonkeyBrain is about picking up a topic and arguing. Arguments are always endless. But what you get in the end? What is there for Squidoo? Revenue from advertisement?
Creating just a site is easy but making an impact is the toughest thing.
The Godfather of Google’s cash cow AdSense, Gokul Rajaraman is starting up a new venture named ChaiLabs. He is yet to unveil the secret of what this new venture is about. But there is a lot of anticipation already. I am breaking my head – well, virtually – to guess what this ChaiLabs is about. I don’t have a clue.
And when I and my friends were talking about this, the topic suddenly turned towards Shabir Bhatiya. And when I checked his latest ventures, there are a lot. Like BlogEveryWhere, SabSe Bolo and LiveDocuments. I don’t know what is so unique about Sabse Bolo. After all, the buzz is about conference calls and the calling charges apply. May be I am too naïve to understand this, may be one of you will explain me. But this Live Documents has got a gloss, I guess. For a long time this protection of word documents is challenging and too weak. With this Live Documents, that can be a breeze. The documents can be protected with the accounts from Live Documents. You will be able to open the document only if you have account with Live Documents and then, obviously the author of the document must include your account in AUL list. In that way, the document could be protected in a way, for sure. This entire Live Documents is built upon Office, as they say. But it would be a hard fight for Live Documents, with the web2.0 providers like Google and Zoho.
Zoho has already introduced building applications online and it’s a breeze to create an application, mainly data gathering something link polls and all. I tried it and created a data form to gather data against Indian Airlines.
Apple has launched video rental, and I see a similar effort – well in early stage – from Rhydun. Rhydun is a product of MusicIndiaOnLine. You can listen to songs online. Of course, you can choose your songs. The quality is good, as they claim. And importantly there are surveys asking: how much will you pay and money related questions. I can guess where it will lead to.
There are lots of ventures. Like chailabs I may go for ParottaLabs. There is a considerable market for parotta (Rotti-Cenai) in Malaysia and Singapore. Like pizzahut I may go for RottiHut. Online parotta ordering and delivering. Sounds good, huh? I came across HeyMonkeyBrain.com – a venture from Squidoo. They (Seth, in particular) say it is the fastest growing internet company. But I am not sure, what he mentions! HeyMonkeyBrain is about picking up a topic and arguing. Arguments are always endless. But what you get in the end? What is there for Squidoo? Revenue from advertisement?
Creating just a site is easy but making an impact is the toughest thing.
Google: Helps us and Keeps us dumb
*This post originally appeared in my other blog on March 30, 2008
When I say us, I refer to programmers.
Most of the programmers I have seen, use Google to find a quick solution.Its no doubt that Google makes the life of programmers easier. Everything is at their finger(s) tip(s). Type what you want in that small textbox and click search. That’s it. We search and find solutions in seconds. But do we remember what we have done? Do we remember that solution? Do we learn anything through this process? That’s one true hell of a question.
Whenever I go to Google to get a solution, if my boss is at my desk, he would question : why don’t you think a solution yourself. He would add: I am not asking you to keep on thinking, but there is nothing you loose if you think for a minute before you ping Google. He has a point. But I wouldn’t listen to him. I would say myself: Oh come on, why do you want to reinvent the wheel? Its already there. Someone has found a solution, I am just going to use it. Why would I think and waste my time and of course the company’s most valuable billing time. I have a point too.
We search and find a solution for PROBLEM 1 through google. We implement it. How? Mostly cut-copy-paste of the code snippet. And then we forget it. We have another problem. PROBLEM 2. We happily go to our grandpa (Google) and he readily gives a solution. We again do the simple job of cut-copy-paste. But after some period of time, if we again face the same PROBLEM 1, we don’t remember the solution which we have implemented previously. We got no time to think, so just ask Google. And this process continues.
Google helps us to find a solution and also keeps us dumb. Machines makes us lazy most of the times. I am not saying that we have do everything on our own, but if we find a solution through Google, we have to pay some attention and really learn what we have implemented. Just cut-copy-paste would lead us to nowhere.
When I say us, I refer to programmers.
Most of the programmers I have seen, use Google to find a quick solution.Its no doubt that Google makes the life of programmers easier. Everything is at their finger(s) tip(s). Type what you want in that small textbox and click search. That’s it. We search and find solutions in seconds. But do we remember what we have done? Do we remember that solution? Do we learn anything through this process? That’s one true hell of a question.
Whenever I go to Google to get a solution, if my boss is at my desk, he would question : why don’t you think a solution yourself. He would add: I am not asking you to keep on thinking, but there is nothing you loose if you think for a minute before you ping Google. He has a point. But I wouldn’t listen to him. I would say myself: Oh come on, why do you want to reinvent the wheel? Its already there. Someone has found a solution, I am just going to use it. Why would I think and waste my time and of course the company’s most valuable billing time. I have a point too.

We search and find a solution for PROBLEM 1 through google. We implement it. How? Mostly cut-copy-paste of the code snippet. And then we forget it. We have another problem. PROBLEM 2. We happily go to our grandpa (Google) and he readily gives a solution. We again do the simple job of cut-copy-paste. But after some period of time, if we again face the same PROBLEM 1, we don’t remember the solution which we have implemented previously. We got no time to think, so just ask Google. And this process continues.
Google helps us to find a solution and also keeps us dumb. Machines makes us lazy most of the times. I am not saying that we have do everything on our own, but if we find a solution through Google, we have to pay some attention and really learn what we have implemented. Just cut-copy-paste would lead us to nowhere.
Tides of Dreams
*This post originally appeared in my other blog tpkpost.wordpress.com on August 30, 2008
I do dream. I have been dreaming of doing things, all through my life. Often, my dreams disappear like tides on the sand. I forget them – once in a while. When I dream again, they are not the same. Dreams constantly change. They say: change is the only thing that does not change, well add my dreams too. I do dream now.
Like tides on the sand, my dreams reappear, again and again. Like tides they are different every time.
I do dream. I have been dreaming of doing things, all through my life. Often, my dreams disappear like tides on the sand. I forget them – once in a while. When I dream again, they are not the same. Dreams constantly change. They say: change is the only thing that does not change, well add my dreams too. I do dream now.
Like tides on the sand, my dreams reappear, again and again. Like tides they are different every time.
Hubble repair mission in IMAX
* Originally appeared in my other blog!
Hubble repair mission is being released in IMAX.WOW! Here is the trailer. I don’t know when it will be released in Singapore’s Omni-Theatre.
Few weeks back, I took my wife and my baby (18 months old) to IMAX to see “Under the Sea”. I have already seen this movie and it is a treat for underwater lovers. (My wife likes to see underwater creatures, though, I haven’t developed that interest). My baby was doing OK until the film started. Once the film started and when the water is all over us, she was scared and started screaming at high pitch. Some viewers have started expressing contempt already. I got no choice except to come out! I played with my child showing this and that, while my wife finished watching the movie. But some how she didn’t like the movie much; may be because I was not there!
Hope this Hubble repair movie comes to Singapore after few months!
Hubble repair mission is being released in IMAX.WOW! Here is the trailer. I don’t know when it will be released in Singapore’s Omni-Theatre.
Few weeks back, I took my wife and my baby (18 months old) to IMAX to see “Under the Sea”. I have already seen this movie and it is a treat for underwater lovers. (My wife likes to see underwater creatures, though, I haven’t developed that interest). My baby was doing OK until the film started. Once the film started and when the water is all over us, she was scared and started screaming at high pitch. Some viewers have started expressing contempt already. I got no choice except to come out! I played with my child showing this and that, while my wife finished watching the movie. But some how she didn’t like the movie much; may be because I was not there!
Hope this Hubble repair movie comes to Singapore after few months!
3.1 crore business in Tasmac shops during Pongal day
* Originally appeared in my other blog!
“நெல்லை: நெல்லை மாவட்டத்தில் பொங்கல் நாளான்று டாஸ்மாக் கடைகளில் ரூ. 3.1 கோடிக்கு மதுபானங்கள் விற்பனையாகி உள்ளது. இது கடந்த ஆண்டை விட ரூ.36 லட்சம் அதிகம் ஆகும்.”
“3.1 crore Indian rupees worth of alcohol was sold during Pongal day in Tasmac alcohol shops in Nellai district (in southern part of India).”
3.1 crore business in just one day? And the same news says that from march – march (1 year) the revenue from these Tasmac alcohol shops is 13000 crores.
What the heck?! What happened to Tamil people?
PS: The budget for free color television scheme is 2400 crores.
“நெல்லை: நெல்லை மாவட்டத்தில் பொங்கல் நாளான்று டாஸ்மாக் கடைகளில் ரூ. 3.1 கோடிக்கு மதுபானங்கள் விற்பனையாகி உள்ளது. இது கடந்த ஆண்டை விட ரூ.36 லட்சம் அதிகம் ஆகும்.”
“3.1 crore Indian rupees worth of alcohol was sold during Pongal day in Tasmac alcohol shops in Nellai district (in southern part of India).”
3.1 crore business in just one day? And the same news says that from march – march (1 year) the revenue from these Tasmac alcohol shops is 13000 crores.
What the heck?! What happened to Tamil people?
PS: The budget for free color television scheme is 2400 crores.
Seeing in the dark : A tribute to amateur astronomers
Yesterday I saw a documentary Seeing In The Dark which I rented from the Library. This documentary is about amateur astronomers and star gazers. I am really exited to see how the world of amateur astronomers has improved. I never thought more about them than mere star gazers. Heck, they make their own telescopes.
These amateurs are doing professional grade researches and discovering planets and even exploding stars. This is a real inspiration. I know these discoveries are not made in a day; but it was shocking to know that they had been watching a single object for years!
This video pays tribute to those amateur astronomers who had spent decades (one must keep in mind that they have family and a different primary job) researching the dark and who had made their dreams come in to reality.
This documentary is based on a book written by Timothy Ferris on the same name. Both the documentary and the book are available in the Singapore library.
Rent it and get inspired.
These amateurs are doing professional grade researches and discovering planets and even exploding stars. This is a real inspiration. I know these discoveries are not made in a day; but it was shocking to know that they had been watching a single object for years!
This video pays tribute to those amateur astronomers who had spent decades (one must keep in mind that they have family and a different primary job) researching the dark and who had made their dreams come in to reality.
This documentary is based on a book written by Timothy Ferris on the same name. Both the documentary and the book are available in the Singapore library.
Rent it and get inspired.
Luck,Buying HDB and Solar Eclipse
* Originally appeared in my other blog!
I am not a great believer in Luck.
But people say Luck knocks your door only once. If you didn’t open the door, then it is gone. Congratulations,You have missed your best deal. Paulo Coelho describes about beginners luck in his book, i forgot the name, it must be Alchemist. It is something that works in favor of you when you begin something. The same thing happened to us, when we started looking for a house to buy.
Somehow because of some misunderstandings and wrong information, we let go of a good deal and until now that missed deal comes before us dancing and mocking at us when ever we start to look for house to buy. Market has become bullish since then and we can no more afford to buy a house.
No one knows if the missed deal is good or bad. But as of now it looks good.As of now.
*
Today the world witnessed the longest solar eclipse of the century. It was seen clearly in the southern part of India. I wish I were there.
Twitter had become an enormous power in the internet world. Now Google is including the Twitter messages for the search key word you have given. Just type Solar Eclipse; you’ll see flood of Twitter updates pouring in from all corners of the world. Loads of updates.
Out of all messages I liked the following tweet:
“Your face is like solar eclipse; who ever sees it goes blind“
People, these days, have lot of time and got really nothing to do. Believe me!
Anyway I didn’t see the solar eclipse!
*
I am not a great believer in Luck.
But people say Luck knocks your door only once. If you didn’t open the door, then it is gone. Congratulations,You have missed your best deal. Paulo Coelho describes about beginners luck in his book, i forgot the name, it must be Alchemist. It is something that works in favor of you when you begin something. The same thing happened to us, when we started looking for a house to buy.
Somehow because of some misunderstandings and wrong information, we let go of a good deal and until now that missed deal comes before us dancing and mocking at us when ever we start to look for house to buy. Market has become bullish since then and we can no more afford to buy a house.
No one knows if the missed deal is good or bad. But as of now it looks good.As of now.
*
Today the world witnessed the longest solar eclipse of the century. It was seen clearly in the southern part of India. I wish I were there.
Twitter had become an enormous power in the internet world. Now Google is including the Twitter messages for the search key word you have given. Just type Solar Eclipse; you’ll see flood of Twitter updates pouring in from all corners of the world. Loads of updates.
Out of all messages I liked the following tweet:
“Your face is like solar eclipse; who ever sees it goes blind“
People, these days, have lot of time and got really nothing to do. Believe me!
Anyway I didn’t see the solar eclipse!
*
Driving Instructors : Why can’t they be patient and informative?
Why can’t the driving instructors be patient enough and be
informative also? Until now I have taken 13 classes on driving and still
a long way to go. Off all the instructors I had, every one of them
falls in to one of these two categories: either they are impatient but
informative or they are patient but not informative.
Yesterday I was doing right turn class. My previous class was also on right turn. My previous instructor was patient enough that I wished him to be my instructor for ever. (It is possible to choose our preferred instructor but to choose your instructor you will have to shell out another 5$ or something which I didn’t want to. Already I am spending hell a lot of money on this driving). But my instructor for yesterday’s class was so informative that he really scared me by giving so much information like “if you ever touch the white cross lines in your filter lane while you right turn then I guarantee an immediate failure during test”. Huh!
I was not able to catch up with him. When I asked him to repeat (of course, after asking a pardon!) he said “so fast also cannota!” That means “The class is only for 1 hour (last session) I wanted to give out information as fast as I can. I am doing you a favor by being fast but still are you not able to catch up with me?” He missed the whole point. It is not his quick way of talking that concerns me but it is his English. It is broken and highly localized. How am I supposed to follow him while I drive? And why does he show his angry face when I am not able to follow him? After all he is a teacher! He gives me more information but he is totally impatient. An impatient teacher never really teaches.
In the middle of right turn he talks with me. In fact he questioned me. He wants an answer immediately. When I didn’t answer he is very upset and he reminds me that he is talking with me. What am I supposed to do? Stop doing a right turn and chat with him in the middle of the road?
When I go for the next class there is a high probability that I will again get him as the instructor. Allocation system tries to help me!
But I understand that a patient instructor is highly useless when he didn’t really educate. I wish the teachers to be patient and informative.
Yesterday I was doing right turn class. My previous class was also on right turn. My previous instructor was patient enough that I wished him to be my instructor for ever. (It is possible to choose our preferred instructor but to choose your instructor you will have to shell out another 5$ or something which I didn’t want to. Already I am spending hell a lot of money on this driving). But my instructor for yesterday’s class was so informative that he really scared me by giving so much information like “if you ever touch the white cross lines in your filter lane while you right turn then I guarantee an immediate failure during test”. Huh!
I was not able to catch up with him. When I asked him to repeat (of course, after asking a pardon!) he said “so fast also cannota!” That means “The class is only for 1 hour (last session) I wanted to give out information as fast as I can. I am doing you a favor by being fast but still are you not able to catch up with me?” He missed the whole point. It is not his quick way of talking that concerns me but it is his English. It is broken and highly localized. How am I supposed to follow him while I drive? And why does he show his angry face when I am not able to follow him? After all he is a teacher! He gives me more information but he is totally impatient. An impatient teacher never really teaches.
In the middle of right turn he talks with me. In fact he questioned me. He wants an answer immediately. When I didn’t answer he is very upset and he reminds me that he is talking with me. What am I supposed to do? Stop doing a right turn and chat with him in the middle of the road?
When I go for the next class there is a high probability that I will again get him as the instructor. Allocation system tries to help me!
But I understand that a patient instructor is highly useless when he didn’t really educate. I wish the teachers to be patient and informative.
Observation and hence Eye witness
* Originally appeared in my other blog.
It’s a game. Observation game. I have given a video down here that shows few youngsters standing in a circle weaving in and out and passing basket ball to each other. Your job is to count how many times the basket ball is being passed among them? As simple as that. The video runs for 25 seconds. So 25 seconds is all you have got.
Here is the video link.
Done? Ok now answer me:
The famous evolutionist Richard Dawkins was one among the observers and he says in his new awesome book The Greatest Show On Earth that,surprisingly, he too didn’t took much notice of the gorilla. And most of the observers also didn’t saw the gorilla, they were busy counting the number of times the basket ball was being passed. They were focussed to their job in hand. In this 25 second video the gorilla appears and waves its hand and begs the observers to “see” it for a whole 9 seconds,almost one-third of the entire length of the video. And yet most of them didn’t see it.
If you can just spot the gorilla in the video, don’t immediately come to a conclusion that this entire game and research does not make much sense. Remember that circumstances and seriousness of the game could change the mentality of the observers and could easily divert their focus.
It’s a game. Observation game. I have given a video down here that shows few youngsters standing in a circle weaving in and out and passing basket ball to each other. Your job is to count how many times the basket ball is being passed among them? As simple as that. The video runs for 25 seconds. So 25 seconds is all you have got.
Here is the video link.
Done? Ok now answer me:
- How many times was the ball passed?
- How many of you actually saw a gorilla?
The famous evolutionist Richard Dawkins was one among the observers and he says in his new awesome book The Greatest Show On Earth that,surprisingly, he too didn’t took much notice of the gorilla. And most of the observers also didn’t saw the gorilla, they were busy counting the number of times the basket ball was being passed. They were focussed to their job in hand. In this 25 second video the gorilla appears and waves its hand and begs the observers to “see” it for a whole 9 seconds,almost one-third of the entire length of the video. And yet most of them didn’t see it.
If you can just spot the gorilla in the video, don’t immediately come to a conclusion that this entire game and research does not make much sense. Remember that circumstances and seriousness of the game could change the mentality of the observers and could easily divert their focus.
Labels:
Atheism,
reading,
Richard Dawkins,
Science,
The Greatest Show On Earth
Singapore getting diluted?
*Originally appeared in my other blog
It appears so. I saw and heard a lot of evidences in the past 2 weeks. To list them out:
1. I and my friend were standing in a MRT station (underground) waiting for the train. A woman came almost running and dropped few pealed skin of oranges behind the pillar. We were standing behind the pillar and we were watching the whole thing; in fact she knew we (for that matter few other people who were waiting for the train too) were watching but she was least bothered. She dropped the pealed skins and walked slowly as if she had done nothing and sat on the bench and waited for the train. How can she ever do that?
2. On that day I was going to Bukit Batok driving center. I had evaluation exam or something. I took the green line and I had to change line at Jurong East station. Those who don’t know about the station: To change line from Green to Red at Jurong East one can just alight at the stop and walk straight to the waiting red line train. So as usual the red line train was waiting. It was fully packed. People were standing out in the platform and waiting to board the next train. They didn’t squeeze themselves in. I had alighted and I ran to board this waiting train. In a few seconds I knew I cannot board the train because it was already full and people were already waiting and so I slowed my pace. But I could see some people still running with a hope to board the already fully packed train. I watched. In spite of people waiting to board the next train, these new people started to squeeze themselves in to the train. They adjusted themselves with in the slightest gap available. After settling themselves, they just stared the ground and never looked at the people who were already waiting outside the train, never.
3. I was waiting for the green man when a CRV stopped in the nearest bus bay and continued to wait there for few minutes, making other buses to wait for this CRV to move. On the same day I saw another SUV which stopped way after the white line and poked its nose in to the pedestrian crossing.
4. Previous week there was a robbery in one of my friends house. Planned robbery. We were shocked to hear this news because it happened to one of my close friend’s wife. She was alone that day when suddenly current went off. Can you imagine power cut in singapore? No way. She was a bit worried and called her husband. After a while 2 “big” men came and told her that there is an up gradation going on and they will have to check the house and do some changes. This poor girl didn’t gave a second thought and let those 2 “big” men inside the house. And there started the problem. They robbed her gold chain, bangles, watches, her husband’s chain, cell phones etc. They had a one year old baby boy whom those 2 “big” guys had used to blackmail the girl.
5.On the night of this diwali my baby was running high temperature. We do our regular checkups at Kinder Clinic but since that was a public holiday we had no choice but to go to KKH. This was our first visit with baby to KKH.There was a big crowd. And once I entered the emergency information/appointment/registration/pre-checkup hall I saw bits of notice standing on the table showing “Consultation fee $80”. Almost on all counters.After waiting for 2 hours we got our turn to see the doctor.We explained and gave all the data correctly for which she promptly replied “there is a 90% chance of H1N1 for the baby”. And advised us to start Tummy Flu. I asked her why can’t we do some test to confirm this; for which she replied me that now H1N1 has become a common flu and for almost all the cases they prescribe Tummy Flu. And she insisted that the baby need to start taking Tummy Flu with in 48 hours of the fever. Already a day has gone. We were scared. Taking Tummy Flu has its own complications. It is not as simple as taking Panadol. For one reason it is bitter and children(especially toddlers) find it extremely difficult to drink it. One must mix it with ice cream or something. Another thing is for some children this may lead to nausea, diarrhea etc. Scary information. My kid had nausea effect and she vomited for first three doses. She was very tired and she had diarrhea too. 2 days gone. No effect. Fever didn’t subside. We were really scared now. Luckily the next day, our baby’s pediatrician returned from his overseas conference and I thought of consulting him too; just in case. I was right. At first look our pediatrician told that this is not H1N1. After few checkups he concluded that this is just an ear infection. And he told me that he has a kit to test for H1N1 positive and he can get the result in 5 mins. Just 5 mins. He was pretty much shocked that KKH has prescribed Tummy Flu for ear infection with out even doing this 5 mins test. My baby got well with in 8 hours after we gave her the antibiotic prescribed by our pediatrician.
These are just few examples. What is happening? I am staying in Singapore for almost 5 years now. This is the first time I am seeing a dilution and this is really not good.
It appears so. I saw and heard a lot of evidences in the past 2 weeks. To list them out:
1. I and my friend were standing in a MRT station (underground) waiting for the train. A woman came almost running and dropped few pealed skin of oranges behind the pillar. We were standing behind the pillar and we were watching the whole thing; in fact she knew we (for that matter few other people who were waiting for the train too) were watching but she was least bothered. She dropped the pealed skins and walked slowly as if she had done nothing and sat on the bench and waited for the train. How can she ever do that?
2. On that day I was going to Bukit Batok driving center. I had evaluation exam or something. I took the green line and I had to change line at Jurong East station. Those who don’t know about the station: To change line from Green to Red at Jurong East one can just alight at the stop and walk straight to the waiting red line train. So as usual the red line train was waiting. It was fully packed. People were standing out in the platform and waiting to board the next train. They didn’t squeeze themselves in. I had alighted and I ran to board this waiting train. In a few seconds I knew I cannot board the train because it was already full and people were already waiting and so I slowed my pace. But I could see some people still running with a hope to board the already fully packed train. I watched. In spite of people waiting to board the next train, these new people started to squeeze themselves in to the train. They adjusted themselves with in the slightest gap available. After settling themselves, they just stared the ground and never looked at the people who were already waiting outside the train, never.
3. I was waiting for the green man when a CRV stopped in the nearest bus bay and continued to wait there for few minutes, making other buses to wait for this CRV to move. On the same day I saw another SUV which stopped way after the white line and poked its nose in to the pedestrian crossing.
4. Previous week there was a robbery in one of my friends house. Planned robbery. We were shocked to hear this news because it happened to one of my close friend’s wife. She was alone that day when suddenly current went off. Can you imagine power cut in singapore? No way. She was a bit worried and called her husband. After a while 2 “big” men came and told her that there is an up gradation going on and they will have to check the house and do some changes. This poor girl didn’t gave a second thought and let those 2 “big” men inside the house. And there started the problem. They robbed her gold chain, bangles, watches, her husband’s chain, cell phones etc. They had a one year old baby boy whom those 2 “big” guys had used to blackmail the girl.
5.On the night of this diwali my baby was running high temperature. We do our regular checkups at Kinder Clinic but since that was a public holiday we had no choice but to go to KKH. This was our first visit with baby to KKH.There was a big crowd. And once I entered the emergency information/appointment/registration/pre-checkup hall I saw bits of notice standing on the table showing “Consultation fee $80”. Almost on all counters.After waiting for 2 hours we got our turn to see the doctor.We explained and gave all the data correctly for which she promptly replied “there is a 90% chance of H1N1 for the baby”. And advised us to start Tummy Flu. I asked her why can’t we do some test to confirm this; for which she replied me that now H1N1 has become a common flu and for almost all the cases they prescribe Tummy Flu. And she insisted that the baby need to start taking Tummy Flu with in 48 hours of the fever. Already a day has gone. We were scared. Taking Tummy Flu has its own complications. It is not as simple as taking Panadol. For one reason it is bitter and children(especially toddlers) find it extremely difficult to drink it. One must mix it with ice cream or something. Another thing is for some children this may lead to nausea, diarrhea etc. Scary information. My kid had nausea effect and she vomited for first three doses. She was very tired and she had diarrhea too. 2 days gone. No effect. Fever didn’t subside. We were really scared now. Luckily the next day, our baby’s pediatrician returned from his overseas conference and I thought of consulting him too; just in case. I was right. At first look our pediatrician told that this is not H1N1. After few checkups he concluded that this is just an ear infection. And he told me that he has a kit to test for H1N1 positive and he can get the result in 5 mins. Just 5 mins. He was pretty much shocked that KKH has prescribed Tummy Flu for ear infection with out even doing this 5 mins test. My baby got well with in 8 hours after we gave her the antibiotic prescribed by our pediatrician.
These are just few examples. What is happening? I am staying in Singapore for almost 5 years now. This is the first time I am seeing a dilution and this is really not good.
On Kamal’s 50 year service
*Originally appeared in my other blog.
Vijay TV is sporting a new program on Kamal’s 50 years of service in Tamil (Can I say Indian?) film industry. Service? How else can I put it?
(What I don’t like with Vijay TV Singapore is their continuous irritable repeated telecast of the advertisements of their own program. One can not count the number of times “Anbe Va” serial’s advertisement is telecasted with in one hour with his own fingers.)
Ok now to the point. I have been seeing this Kamalum-Thamizhum (Kamal and Tamil), Kamalum kadhalum (Kamal and Love) et., all kind of programs coming up in Vijay TV.
One cannot deny that he is one of the best available actors in Indian cinema and particularly Tamil cinema industry. I fell in love with Kamal’s acting after I saw his movie Sathya. For other than Tamil readers: If you have never seen this movie, now go rent it or buy it or download it or do what ever and make sure you see that movie. That is one of the master piece performance by Kamalhassan. One might say that his crying in Mahanathi or his crying in Punnagai Mannan is his best performance. But I doubt it.
Ok I accept that I cried in the theater when I was watching this movie Mahanathi. But that is an emotion. An emotion that was being built up right from the starting of the movie and it waited for its time to burst out. If you watch just that scene alone I bet you will not have that kind of emotion.
An acting must be natural that when you see the performance you must never see the actor in it, but you must see the character. But in most of his movies once in a while appearing characters will be totally wiped out by the strong wiper Kamalhassan. Guna, Thevar Magan, Hey Ram are to name a few; not to forget Sandiyar.
Even though I am a fan of Rajini, I liked and loved very few performances of Kamal. Here is the list:
Now there is a visible change happening here in Tamil industry. Loads of good movies from good directors had been made. Mozhi, Kaadhal, Veyil, Subramaniyapuram, Pasanga to name a few. Did the Tamil audience not support these movies? The architects of this change are apparently Shankar (as a producer) and Prakash Raj. They identified and introduced good directors. They produced and experimented movies. That was very bold. One fine example is “Imsai Arasan 23aam Pulikesi”.
Now, why can’t (or didn’t) Kamal do this? Don’t mistake me. I cannot put this question to Vijayakanth or Rajnikanth for simple reason: they are not Ulaga nayagarkal (Heroes of the world!).
Vijay TV is sporting a new program on Kamal’s 50 years of service in Tamil (Can I say Indian?) film industry. Service? How else can I put it?
(What I don’t like with Vijay TV Singapore is their continuous irritable repeated telecast of the advertisements of their own program. One can not count the number of times “Anbe Va” serial’s advertisement is telecasted with in one hour with his own fingers.)
Ok now to the point. I have been seeing this Kamalum-Thamizhum (Kamal and Tamil), Kamalum kadhalum (Kamal and Love) et., all kind of programs coming up in Vijay TV.
One cannot deny that he is one of the best available actors in Indian cinema and particularly Tamil cinema industry. I fell in love with Kamal’s acting after I saw his movie Sathya. For other than Tamil readers: If you have never seen this movie, now go rent it or buy it or download it or do what ever and make sure you see that movie. That is one of the master piece performance by Kamalhassan. One might say that his crying in Mahanathi or his crying in Punnagai Mannan is his best performance. But I doubt it.
Ok I accept that I cried in the theater when I was watching this movie Mahanathi. But that is an emotion. An emotion that was being built up right from the starting of the movie and it waited for its time to burst out. If you watch just that scene alone I bet you will not have that kind of emotion.
An acting must be natural that when you see the performance you must never see the actor in it, but you must see the character. But in most of his movies once in a while appearing characters will be totally wiped out by the strong wiper Kamalhassan. Guna, Thevar Magan, Hey Ram are to name a few; not to forget Sandiyar.
Even though I am a fan of Rajini, I liked and loved very few performances of Kamal. Here is the list:
- Varumaiyin Niram Sigapu
- Aboorva Sagotharargal (For Appu’s innocent smile)
- Sathya
- Indiran Chandran (for the Mayor)
- Micahel Madana Kamarajan (for showing 4 different characters)
- Salangai Oli (only young performance)
- Oru Kaithiyin Dairy (only old performance)
- Vettaiyadu Vialayadu
- Dasavatharam (Vincent Pooavaragavan)
- Vikaram (For his style and charm)
- I liked and loved Velu Nayakar before I saw Don Corleone. I still
don’t know why Kamal had to imitate Marlan Brando and Al Pacino.
- Even now when I see Al Pacino in some movies I cannot help but
relate his mannerisms with Kamal. If you have doubts watch Insomnia and
God Father part 2. Did Al Pacino follow the styles of Kamal Hassan?
- Also why in the world Kamal has to remake the movie A Wednesday? My
friends say that he has done it to pass the message to all including C
section. Bullshit. And the message in the movie A Wednesday is utterly
stupid, that you can eliminate (or reduce) the violence by killing the
terrorists. One of the cheap commercial tactic to attract already
confused youngsters.
- If Kamal ever wish to do a remake of a Hindi movie and yet want to
pass a good message to the so called B and C section then he must act in
the remake of Lage Raho Munnabhai and Taare Zameen Par.
After I watched Taare Zameen Par, I repeatedly asked this question to
myself: why our so called legends in Tamil cinema didn’t ever think of a
movie in this theme? Can they ever? I share Charu’s view on this regard.
Now there is a visible change happening here in Tamil industry. Loads of good movies from good directors had been made. Mozhi, Kaadhal, Veyil, Subramaniyapuram, Pasanga to name a few. Did the Tamil audience not support these movies? The architects of this change are apparently Shankar (as a producer) and Prakash Raj. They identified and introduced good directors. They produced and experimented movies. That was very bold. One fine example is “Imsai Arasan 23aam Pulikesi”.
Now, why can’t (or didn’t) Kamal do this? Don’t mistake me. I cannot put this question to Vijayakanth or Rajnikanth for simple reason: they are not Ulaga nayagarkal (Heroes of the world!).
ECP : Camping
Last Saturday I was just going through my mails at home and suddenly
this camping thing flashed in my mind. I always wanted to camp - but
have never done that. When we were living at Clementi - we used to go to
West Coast Park often. It is just 10 mins walk from the place where we
lived. Though it is not quite an interesting place as East Coast Park;
it had lots of activities to do like kite flying, biking, skating and
camping.
This time when I said to my wife about camping; to my surprise she immediately agreed and started to pack things. We are going for camping but we didn’t have any camp gears. We planned to buy tent from Giant – in Tampines Retail Park and then to go to ECP.
In Singapore if you want to Camp in any park you need to register yourself. It is a very simple procedure – and you can do it in minutes using AXS website.
There are few rules to know before you apply for Camping. One rule which worried me is:
To me this rule is not realistic. When you go for camping you think about loads of other things to do other than just camping. And the important point is you will wish to do it with your family. What is the fun in just leaving your spouse back in tent? Or letting your spouse do it when you stay back in tent? I don’t understand!
Any way I booked and got my print out from an AXS machine (there is one very near to my HDB). And we headed out direct to Giant.
It was pretty easy to buy a tent – because you know your budget. Anything around than 30$ was good. I got one from xTreme (3 Person water proof) tent for 34$. Bought some sand play toys for my kid. Great!
*
We reached the spot and searched for a good location to pitch the tent. In ECP you can pitch tents at 2 places – Park area D and Park area G. Park area D is nearer to the main ECP center and food courts. Park area G is almost the end of the beach. Just opposite to National Sailing Center.
We chose area G – for no reasons. We found the place quite. It was our first camping – we didn’t know how to mount this tent. After struggling we sought the help of a neighbor who was BBQing although this time. He helped us to understand the basics of the tenting – then it was a breeze.
Basically there are 2 long poles – to be inserted diagonally in the packets that run through the tents diagonally and clamp the hook in the four corners to the corresponding end of the diagonals. Then use the anchor to pitch the tent to the ground. That’s it.
*
Meanwhile my daughter has started to play with her sand toys. After pitching up the tent we joined my daughter in her sand games – we made crabs, sea horses, castles etc. When it is boring we played with waves. Then back to the sand.
After some time we thought of flying kite. My daughter loves kite very much. The previous day, I had bought an expensive Cindrella kite from Musthafa. But unfortunately the kite didn’t go up. We tried hard. My daughter was very angry with me. She must have been thinking: why daddy cannot put this kite up in the sky. What’s wrong with him and the kite? We tried for some time and then we decided to put an end to this drama as everybody around us started wondering what’s going on?!
After buying some drinks we decided to go biking. There are no shops around car park area G – except a drinks and snacks stall in the bike rental place. I and my wife rented a bike each. My bike had baby seat – where my daughter perfectly fitted in. We started our bike ride from Park area G to the SKI Park – almost 5 KM and bought some food from the food court and then returned back. Almost 10KM ride in bike. It was tiring but a refreshing ride. I and my wife loved riding bike together. My daughter was bit worried though, saying: daddy it is dark, we go to home and sleep!
We returned to our tent and had our food. We relaxed ourselves lying back watching the stars and hearing the tides and the airplanes.
The only thing that irritated me is the wind. No wind and it were hot. We stayed there for some more hours and left later.
Altogether the trip is refreshing and we look forward to go again!
This time when I said to my wife about camping; to my surprise she immediately agreed and started to pack things. We are going for camping but we didn’t have any camp gears. We planned to buy tent from Giant – in Tampines Retail Park and then to go to ECP.
In Singapore if you want to Camp in any park you need to register yourself. It is a very simple procedure – and you can do it in minutes using AXS website.
There are few rules to know before you apply for Camping. One rule which worried me is:
“The person to whom a permit is issued must be present at the tent at all times and must not leave the tent vacant or unattended to, and must show his permit to NParks officers for verification upon request. Any tent left vacant or unattended to may be removed by NParks without notice.”
To me this rule is not realistic. When you go for camping you think about loads of other things to do other than just camping. And the important point is you will wish to do it with your family. What is the fun in just leaving your spouse back in tent? Or letting your spouse do it when you stay back in tent? I don’t understand!
Any way I booked and got my print out from an AXS machine (there is one very near to my HDB). And we headed out direct to Giant.
It was pretty easy to buy a tent – because you know your budget. Anything around than 30$ was good. I got one from xTreme (3 Person water proof) tent for 34$. Bought some sand play toys for my kid. Great!
*
We reached the spot and searched for a good location to pitch the tent. In ECP you can pitch tents at 2 places – Park area D and Park area G. Park area D is nearer to the main ECP center and food courts. Park area G is almost the end of the beach. Just opposite to National Sailing Center.
We chose area G – for no reasons. We found the place quite. It was our first camping – we didn’t know how to mount this tent. After struggling we sought the help of a neighbor who was BBQing although this time. He helped us to understand the basics of the tenting – then it was a breeze.
Basically there are 2 long poles – to be inserted diagonally in the packets that run through the tents diagonally and clamp the hook in the four corners to the corresponding end of the diagonals. Then use the anchor to pitch the tent to the ground. That’s it.
*
Meanwhile my daughter has started to play with her sand toys. After pitching up the tent we joined my daughter in her sand games – we made crabs, sea horses, castles etc. When it is boring we played with waves. Then back to the sand.
After some time we thought of flying kite. My daughter loves kite very much. The previous day, I had bought an expensive Cindrella kite from Musthafa. But unfortunately the kite didn’t go up. We tried hard. My daughter was very angry with me. She must have been thinking: why daddy cannot put this kite up in the sky. What’s wrong with him and the kite? We tried for some time and then we decided to put an end to this drama as everybody around us started wondering what’s going on?!
After buying some drinks we decided to go biking. There are no shops around car park area G – except a drinks and snacks stall in the bike rental place. I and my wife rented a bike each. My bike had baby seat – where my daughter perfectly fitted in. We started our bike ride from Park area G to the SKI Park – almost 5 KM and bought some food from the food court and then returned back. Almost 10KM ride in bike. It was tiring but a refreshing ride. I and my wife loved riding bike together. My daughter was bit worried though, saying: daddy it is dark, we go to home and sleep!
We returned to our tent and had our food. We relaxed ourselves lying back watching the stars and hearing the tides and the airplanes.
The only thing that irritated me is the wind. No wind and it were hot. We stayed there for some more hours and left later.
Altogether the trip is refreshing and we look forward to go again!
Friday, July 27, 2007
I bet you won’t cross 30 pages
As soon as my boss saw the book, Midnight’s Children, on my desk, he snapped saying, “Oh! Come on; don’t say you are reading that crap. If you are, I bet you won’t cross 30 pages.” But he was wrong, I crossed 50 pages. Here, I am compelled to say that, it is not an easy read. Forget those unknown words, that don’t matter at all. The problem is with the concept and the sentence formation, to be precise, the narration. When I say problem, I am not representing, the whole lot book readers. It is just my problem.
And after 50 pages, I had enough of his complex words and sentences and of course, the imagination. I cannot stand the perforated sheet and the Humming Bird. Finally, yesterday, I dumped it. I may return, later. Not now for sure!
I started reading Istanbul, Memories Of A City, today.
It is raining a lot here in Singapore. No day has passed in this week without an hour of rain. The usual, hot-and-humid annoying air has given way for cool-and-misty enjoyable climate. Suddenly, Telok Blangah looks like Camaroon Highlands. The chillness of the floor passes through my feet, as I step off my bed in the morning. Certainly, I miss Camaroon Highlands and Kodaikanal. And again I am compelled to say that, I have never been to Ooty.
And after 50 pages, I had enough of his complex words and sentences and of course, the imagination. I cannot stand the perforated sheet and the Humming Bird. Finally, yesterday, I dumped it. I may return, later. Not now for sure!
I started reading Istanbul, Memories Of A City, today.
It is raining a lot here in Singapore. No day has passed in this week without an hour of rain. The usual, hot-and-humid annoying air has given way for cool-and-misty enjoyable climate. Suddenly, Telok Blangah looks like Camaroon Highlands. The chillness of the floor passes through my feet, as I step off my bed in the morning. Certainly, I miss Camaroon Highlands and Kodaikanal. And again I am compelled to say that, I have never been to Ooty.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Whatsitsname, ah!, Sarcasm
Sometimes, I feel like, Rushdie deserves Fatwa. No. I haven’t read his Shame or Fury. But I have read The Ground Beneath Her Feet and now, reading – for a second time, though at first time I wouldn’t say, I read. I just flew through the pages, for no apparent reason! – Midnight’s Children. This time, I have to admit, I am enjoying it thoroughly. I always wonder where in the world he keeps all these words. Both the novels – The Ground Beneath Her Feet, is a first-class word galore! – use lot of unknown words, atleast for me. Again, No, don’t be silly, the Fatwa is not for using unknown words.
And then sometimes, I feel like, I love him, for his way of criticism. How in the world, he finds such sarcastic comments over anything and everything he sees or come in contact with. Being sarcastic is too bad, when the sarcasm is false. But he is right, at times, very right, indeed!
I can quote a lot from his books, but this thought – that urged me to write it down – popped up, after I read these lines in Midnights Children.
The twin hearts of her kingdom were her kitchen and her pantry. I never entered the former, but remembered staring through the pantry's locked screen doors at the enigmatic world within, a world of hanging wire baskets covered with linen cloths to keep out the flies, of tins which I knew to be full of gur and other sweets, of locked chests with neat square labels, of nuts and turnips and sacks of grain, of goose eggs and wooden brooms. Pantry and kitchen were her inalienable territory; and she defended them ferociously. When she was carrying her last child, my aunt Emerald, her husband offered to relieve her of the chore of supervising the cook. She did not reply; but the next day, when Aziz approached the kitchen, she emerged from it with a metal pot in her hands and barred the doorway. She was fat and also pregnant, so there was not much room left in the doorway. Aadam Aziz frowned. 'What is this, wife?' To which my grandmother answered, 'This, whatsitsname, is a very heavy pot; and if just once I catch you in here, whatsitsname, I'll push your head into it, add some dahi, and make, whatsitsname, a korma.' I don't know how my grandmother came to adopt the term whatsitsname as her leitmotif, but as the years passed it invaded her sentences more and more often. I like to think of it as an unconscious cry for help… as a seriously meant question. Reverend Mother was giving us a hint that, for all her presence and bulk, she was adrift in the universe. She didn't know, you see, what it was called.
- An excerpt from Midnights Children.
And then sometimes, I feel like, I love him, for his way of criticism. How in the world, he finds such sarcastic comments over anything and everything he sees or come in contact with. Being sarcastic is too bad, when the sarcasm is false. But he is right, at times, very right, indeed!
I can quote a lot from his books, but this thought – that urged me to write it down – popped up, after I read these lines in Midnights Children.
The twin hearts of her kingdom were her kitchen and her pantry. I never entered the former, but remembered staring through the pantry's locked screen doors at the enigmatic world within, a world of hanging wire baskets covered with linen cloths to keep out the flies, of tins which I knew to be full of gur and other sweets, of locked chests with neat square labels, of nuts and turnips and sacks of grain, of goose eggs and wooden brooms. Pantry and kitchen were her inalienable territory; and she defended them ferociously. When she was carrying her last child, my aunt Emerald, her husband offered to relieve her of the chore of supervising the cook. She did not reply; but the next day, when Aziz approached the kitchen, she emerged from it with a metal pot in her hands and barred the doorway. She was fat and also pregnant, so there was not much room left in the doorway. Aadam Aziz frowned. 'What is this, wife?' To which my grandmother answered, 'This, whatsitsname, is a very heavy pot; and if just once I catch you in here, whatsitsname, I'll push your head into it, add some dahi, and make, whatsitsname, a korma.' I don't know how my grandmother came to adopt the term whatsitsname as her leitmotif, but as the years passed it invaded her sentences more and more often. I like to think of it as an unconscious cry for help… as a seriously meant question. Reverend Mother was giving us a hint that, for all her presence and bulk, she was adrift in the universe. She didn't know, you see, what it was called.
- An excerpt from Midnights Children.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Not a Secret Anymore!
Sometimes you will be careful. Even Geetha (Not my friend. But Bagavat Geetha) says, what ever happens is for good. Yes. But sometimes things are out of your dirty littlle hand. We try to catch it, we do action well. We may feel like we are holding it. We may even feel like we had it in ourselves all along. But still like air, it will elude us. Like BinLaden. We will never get hold of air, can we? Even if we catch it, we cannot prove it, can we really?
What happened is, I should have gone to sleep, at least now, with this cold and cough. But the Cine-maniac inside me wanted to see The Departed for upteenth time. I selected the VOB file and played using VLC Media player. But after I saw Decaprio, I cannot control myself. I wanted a mustache like him. That’s where all started. Now I regret, earnestly.
At first I was going alright and yeah, in line. After all I just have to cut short my mustache, like Decaprio. I did it. But suddenly I got a call in my cell phone and now am doing a double duty. Result over-enthusiastic-me, cut a lump under nose. I became anti-hitler, at least in mustache. What can I do after that? What other options do I have?
Get rid of the mess or mustache or what ever you name it, that thing you got under your nose, shouted Charming-Me. So I got rid of.
PS:
Honestly, for this story, do you think it is fair to drag Bagavath Geetha and Hitler? Nazis, if they exist as they do in The Seventh Secret written by Irving Wallace will feel so upset.
What happened is, I should have gone to sleep, at least now, with this cold and cough. But the Cine-maniac inside me wanted to see The Departed for upteenth time. I selected the VOB file and played using VLC Media player. But after I saw Decaprio, I cannot control myself. I wanted a mustache like him. That’s where all started. Now I regret, earnestly.
At first I was going alright and yeah, in line. After all I just have to cut short my mustache, like Decaprio. I did it. But suddenly I got a call in my cell phone and now am doing a double duty. Result over-enthusiastic-me, cut a lump under nose. I became anti-hitler, at least in mustache. What can I do after that? What other options do I have?
Get rid of the mess or mustache or what ever you name it, that thing you got under your nose, shouted Charming-Me. So I got rid of.
PS:
Honestly, for this story, do you think it is fair to drag Bagavath Geetha and Hitler? Nazis, if they exist as they do in The Seventh Secret written by Irving Wallace will feel so upset.
Such is the power of the boy!
Reading is a habit, which has to be developed over time. It is a skill that can be acquired –not easily though- at any period of our life. Most of the people acquire it when they retire- to be more precise, when they got nothing to do. Yes, that’s what the whole lot non book lovers think- reading a novel is such a waste and you have to do that only when you really have nothing on hand. When I say “I was reading” to my brother when he calls me, he would whine saying “oh, come on, do something more useful”
I read everywhere. I usually carry a book with me, always (Now I am carrying Black Swan Green by David Mitchell). Except, for the toughest stand in the train –yeah, sometimes you’ll have nothing to hold on to but the near by girl’s waist, which you’ll eye up on but will never try. Mind you, you’ll do some amazing dance steps which you will never be able to repeat under normal conditions, howsoever you try- I read all the times. I even read at escalators, if the novel is so interesting.
Then there is a new girl in our office. It is almost a week now and I never talked with her, didn’t get a chance, actually! And then there we are in a lift.
I began with a usual Hi. And it picked up from there. After formal mutual who-what-where introduction, she told she knew me even before she joined in our office. “Oh, Really? How?” “I am staying in the same line (MRT) and we have traveled together a lot of times. I have seen you all those times. Of course, you wouldn’t look at me, because you always bury your stupid head in to your stupid Harry Potter book. Honestly, what is there for you in that kid’s book?”
As a matter of fact, I finished 5 Harry Potter books at a stretch. I was carrying one after the other for the whole 2 months. No wonder she got pissed off.
She noticed me not because of my charms- yeah, sometimes I speak truth- but because of Harry Potter. Such is the power of the boy. As Rowling wrote - confident or premonition? - in her very first book in the very first chapter like this:
-There will be books written about Harry. Every child in our world will know his name.
I read everywhere. I usually carry a book with me, always (Now I am carrying Black Swan Green by David Mitchell). Except, for the toughest stand in the train –yeah, sometimes you’ll have nothing to hold on to but the near by girl’s waist, which you’ll eye up on but will never try. Mind you, you’ll do some amazing dance steps which you will never be able to repeat under normal conditions, howsoever you try- I read all the times. I even read at escalators, if the novel is so interesting.
Then there is a new girl in our office. It is almost a week now and I never talked with her, didn’t get a chance, actually! And then there we are in a lift.
I began with a usual Hi. And it picked up from there. After formal mutual who-what-where introduction, she told she knew me even before she joined in our office. “Oh, Really? How?” “I am staying in the same line (MRT) and we have traveled together a lot of times. I have seen you all those times. Of course, you wouldn’t look at me, because you always bury your stupid head in to your stupid Harry Potter book. Honestly, what is there for you in that kid’s book?”
As a matter of fact, I finished 5 Harry Potter books at a stretch. I was carrying one after the other for the whole 2 months. No wonder she got pissed off.
She noticed me not because of my charms- yeah, sometimes I speak truth- but because of Harry Potter. Such is the power of the boy. As Rowling wrote - confident or premonition? - in her very first book in the very first chapter like this:
-There will be books written about Harry. Every child in our world will know his name.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Book-Kraken
For the past two days, I had lots of free time, enough to finish up a 375 paged Man Booker prize nominated book. And then I started another one of same kind. I didn’t know how this booker thing got in to my mind. I have read some –a lot really! - Yester year’s nominees. Let me revisit my brain like Dumbledore visits his pensieve. First I got hold of The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson, then The Perfect Man (didn’t care to finish!) and Seven Lies (finished it, but not sure of the story line!). Then I stopped. I really felt like had enough of war and people of Scotland or British villages. As a coherence all of the novels had something to do with War and it’s after effects. One thing for sure is, every one wants to have a go about war and they all have got something – or same thing - to say.
I jumped to Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix and finished it in one week. I really love it –needless to say. I love the creativity and the imagination. But what amazed me is how the imagination fits in for all the age groups? How she writes for all of us? Kids, Pre-Teens, Teens, Adults and even for grand-pa and grand-ma. I have a –stupid- habit of reading everywhere- not to mention trains, I have a story, which I will share later. Guess all the bloggers share this habit. Yes. As a matter of fact all are bookworms. Else they wouldn’t be blogging in first place. What on earth will they have to write –if they are not reading- daily? I have already told in my Tamil blog that bookworms are not supposed to be called like that! I hate that word, worm. Apart from the fact that worm slowly –rather patiently- eats up a book (or for that matter a leaf), that word doesn’t make any sense at all. I have seen book-anacondas. I have seen them gulping Shantharam in a week. I know a girl who reads 4 books per month- no matter what-so-ever business she has got. I would call her, the Book-Kraken!
I started somewhere and ended up at another place, like a kid learning to write in an un-ruled exercise notebook. So is this entry.
I jumped to Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix and finished it in one week. I really love it –needless to say. I love the creativity and the imagination. But what amazed me is how the imagination fits in for all the age groups? How she writes for all of us? Kids, Pre-Teens, Teens, Adults and even for grand-pa and grand-ma. I have a –stupid- habit of reading everywhere- not to mention trains, I have a story, which I will share later. Guess all the bloggers share this habit. Yes. As a matter of fact all are bookworms. Else they wouldn’t be blogging in first place. What on earth will they have to write –if they are not reading- daily? I have already told in my Tamil blog that bookworms are not supposed to be called like that! I hate that word, worm. Apart from the fact that worm slowly –rather patiently- eats up a book (or for that matter a leaf), that word doesn’t make any sense at all. I have seen book-anacondas. I have seen them gulping Shantharam in a week. I know a girl who reads 4 books per month- no matter what-so-ever business she has got. I would call her, the Book-Kraken!
I started somewhere and ended up at another place, like a kid learning to write in an un-ruled exercise notebook. So is this entry.
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