My Ink Drops

You Are Invited !!

2009-06-22T10:15:00.001-07:00

We would be very glad if you visit our wedding website below.

It has more details about us, about the wedding and you can drop us a word too.

http://www.sowgandhisravankumar.com

Looking forward to see you at the wedding!!

On AIR

2009-05-09T04:30:00.001-07:00

Well, I went on AIR yesterday. Not in the parachute way, AIR here is All India Radio. I recited some of my tamil poems in the Bangalore AM 'Sneha Bharati' programme.

It was a wonderful experience. First of sorts, seeing the audio visual controls, I couldn't believe it was happening. The recording went through fine with the first take last month, and when I heard it yesterday, it was initially funny listening to my own voice broadcasted over the radio. But then, I got used to it, so I hope about the other listeners too :).

Anyway, it was a wonderful experience; a good break from an otherwise monotonous Bangalore life.

வணக்கம் உலகம்

2009-05-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

புறம் வகை வணக்கம்

{

புறம் தன்னிலை காலி முக்கியம்(வார்த்தை[] வாதங்கள்)

{

அமைப்பு.வெளியே.சொல்கூறு("வணக்கம் உலகம்");

}

The Crappiest Song

2009-04-28T03:01:00.000-07:00

After listening to this song for about 10 15 years now, I still am not able to decide if I like it or hate it. It comes with an amazing tune and the crappiest lyrics I have ever heard. Very fittingly, it is for Ramarajan!

I am so pissed off with the lyrics I am blogging it.

பல்லவி

சொர்கமே என்றாலும் அது நம்மூர போல வருமா?
- வராதா? அப்போ ஏன் எல்லாரும் செத்த அப்பறம் சொர்கத்துக்கு போகனும்னு ஆசை படறாங்க?

எந்நாடு என்றாலும் அது நம் நாட்டுக்கீடாகுமா?
- எப்போதான் நம்ம trumpet அடிக்கறத நிறுத்த போறோம்? As SRK lays it down clearly in swades, unless we accept our mistakes, we will never improve.

தேசம் முழுதும் பேசும் மொழிகள் தமிழ் போல் இனித்திடுமா?
- வெச்சிடாங்கல்லே! அது எப்படியா? எங்க போனாலும் சுத்தி சுத்தி மொழி பிரச்சினை இல்ல ஜாதி பிரச்சினைக்கு வந்துடறீங்க? மொத 2 line இந்தியா பத்தி பாடிட்டு எப்படிஉடனே communalism-a சேர்த்து விட்டாங்கய்யா!

சரணம் 1

ஏரிக்கரை காத்தும் ஏலேலேலோ பாட்டும் இங்க ஏதும் கேட்கவில்லையே!
- எப்படி? Singapore நடூல எப்படி கேட்கும் ங்கறேன்? இத கேக்கறதுக்கா Singapore போனீங்க? போன வேலைய பாக்காம ஊர வெட்டியா சுத்திட்டு பாட்டு வேற! ஊருல இருக்கும் போது தண்ணிய போட்டுட்டு அம்மாவ எட்டி உதைக்க வேண்டியது, Singapore போய் ஏலேலேலேலோ பாட்டு கேக்க வேண்டியது!

பாடும் குயில் சத்தம் ஆடும் மயில் நித்தம் பாக்க ஒரு சோலயில்லையே!
- இதெல்லாம் இந்தியாலயே எல்லா இடத்துலயும் கிடையாது. எதுகை மோனை நல்லா இருக்குனு எத ஒன்னா எழுதறதா?

வெத்தலைய மடிச்சி மாமன் அத கடிச்சி துப்ப ஒரு வழியில்லையே!
- து கன்றாவி! I don't wana write anything about this, this is the worst line ever. shows how much we take our roads for granted!

ஓடி வந்து குதிச்சு முங்கி முங்கி குளிச்சு ஆட ஒரு ஓடையில்லையெ!
- Bungee Jumping, Sea Surfing இதெல்லாம் தெரியலையாம், முங்கி குளிக்க ஒரு ஓடை வேணுமாம். வெளியூருலையும் ஓடை இருக்குங்கோவ்! சுத்தமா எருமை மாடு குளிக்காத ஓடை! இந்தியால நல்லதா எவ்ளோ இருக்கு? இத பத்தியா எழுதனும்?

இவ்வூரு என்ன ஊரு நம்மூரு ரொம்ப மேலு ..
- There you go again! Objected to as insufficient, incompetent and irrelevant!

அட ஓடும் பல காரு வீன் ஆடம்பரம் பாரு ..
- எந்த ஊர்ல இது நியாயம்? Car வெச்சிருந்தா ஆடம்பரமாம். Unforunately, a lot of people think this way. But everyone strives to buy one. And if they are not able to buy one, down with capitalism!

ஒரு தாகம் தீற ஏது மோரு?
- அட பாவிகளா! Singapore-ல மோரு கிடைக்காதா?

சரணம் 2

மாடு கன்னு மேய்க்க மேயறத பார்க்க மந்தவெளி இங்க இல்லையே!
- ராமராஜன் கிட்ட வேற என்ன பெருசா எதிர் பாக்க முடியும்? இதெல்லாம் ஒரு பெருமையாவே எடுத்துகிட வேன்டியது! வெட்டியா சுத்தறத ஒரு பொழப்பாவே ஆக்கிட்டங்கய்யா!

ஆடு புலி ஆட்டம் போட்டு விளையாட அரச மரம் மேடையில்லையே!
- You get the drift right? எத சொன்னாலும் அத பெருமையா சொல்லிக்கறது.

காள ரெண்டு பூட்டி கட்ட வண்டி ஓட்டி கானம் பாட வழியில்லையே
- Sigh! இதுலையும் பெருமையா? It's a nice experience though.

தோழிகளை அழைச்சு சொல்லி சொல்லி ரசிச்சு ஆட்டம் போட முடியலையே ..
- ஏனா எல்லாரும் இங்க ஊர்ல இருக்காங்க. அங்க போய் உக்காந்து பாடினா? Friends பிடி மகனே. தமிழ் மட்டும் தான் பேசுவேன், English hindi லாம் பேச மாட்டேன்னு சொன்னா வேலைக்காவாது.

ஒரு யந்திரத்த போல அட இங்கே உள்ள வாழ்கை ..
- கனகாம்பட்டி-ல நிறைய activities போல .. எச்சை துப்பறது, மாடு மேய்க்கறது மாதிரி ..

இத எங்கே போய் சொல்ல மனம் இஷ்ட பட வில்ல ..
- அப்போ மூடு!

நம்மூர போல ஊரும் இல்ல ..
- அட ராமா! என்ன ஏன் இந்த மாதிரி கழிசடை பசங்களோடலாம் கூட்டு சேர வெக்கற?!!

And when singing all this, Ramarajan and Gowthami actually go around singapore, and they show all the beautiful beaches, water-bikes, hi-rise buildings, boat-rides and theme parks!

Next time you listen to this song, think about it. Isn't the whole lyrics aimed towards blowing our own trumpet without any depth? Actually, we have lot better things to be proud of, than the crappy things written down here. And our people have the uncanny ability to pick up such songs, take pride in the said things and make it a super duper hit. God save India!

விடாமுயற்சி

2009-04-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

முடிவெடுத்த பின் பாதை மாறாமல்,
வடிவெடுத்த நின் தாகம் தீராமல்,
செய் - எல்லையடையும் வரை செய்!

உடல் தளர்ந்தும் மனம் சறுக்காமல்,
கடல் திறந்தும் பயம் இருக்காமல்,
செய் - கரைதொடும் வரை செய்!

வையம் இகழும் பயமும் கொஞ்சம்,
வைரம் தழுவும் உந்தன் நெஞ்சம்,
செய் - இலக்கிழக்காமல் செய்!

சிந்தனை மாறா நேர்வழி நடக்க,
நிந்தனை பாரா நெர்பொரி தெறிக்க,
செய் - வியர்வை வடிந்தும் செய்!

தேனை பூவின் உள்ளே கண்டு,
பூவை தேடும் கறுஞ்சிறு வண்டு,
செய் - கிடைக்கும் வரை செய்!

தன்னிலும் மிகுந்த உணவை சுமந்து,
நேர்வழி செல்லும் சிறிய எறும்பு,
செய் - வழிதவறாமல் செய்!

கொள்கை பிடித்து நல்வழி சென்று,
மனிதன் என்னால் முடியும் நன்று,
குறிக்கோள் அடைய வழியும் ஒன்று,
அடையும் வரை ஒழியேன் என்று
செய் - விடாமுயற்சி செய்!!

The Software Culture

2009-03-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Software Engineering in India, if plotted on a graph of Time vs. State, would be a Sinusoidal wave. It has had its crests and troughs, majorly as repurcussions or aftermaths of the pressure generated across the sea. I represent a small speck in the vast number of Indians who surf the wave of Software Engineering, and the ride is pretty much what it is - A Ride. It has made its mark in India and has swept the Indians off their foot. It has been the solace of many a souls that would have done God-Knows-What otherwise. It has changed the face of Indian Economy, both in the sub-continental and international scale. The only other cult that I could think of that has made such a massive impact on Indians is Cricket. Not that I mean to compare Cricket and Software Engineering. If I do, I am sure the former will win. But when it comes to life itself, there is nothing to beat the effect of Software Engineering on Indians.

When the wave of Software Engineering started reaching the shores of India, I was probably crawling on all my fours. By the time I learnt my ABC's and moved on to bigger things, the intoxication of "My son is studying to become an Engineerrrr or Doctorrrr, and I will be a proud Fatherrr one day" had taken over most Indians. I chose MPC (Maths/Physics/Chemisty), because I liked the Pythagorous theorem, Newton's laws and the colour of Copper Sulphate, in that order. I did not choose Biology because I could neither draw a straight line without a ruler nor could I remember Complexi Nameosis. Why bother to call an earthworm an earthworm, when you can call it Lumbricus terrestris? Not my forte! Though I excelled in biology in my class, I had the wisdom to know it was more a drive for the first rank, than any serious love. Physics was waiting for me with open hands, those generous fingers and sensuous eyes with which it invited and enveloped thousands and thousands into its gravitational bosom. The Newtons and Einsteins of this world manifested themselves in me and soon, I was working 16-hour days in the foot steps of DAV (my hi-scool), the magical three letters that will suck your life out of you only to make you search for it elsewhere. The effect of Physics and Chemistry on me was phenomenal, Computers was not even an option then. I was lost in the mechanics of heat, the entropy of this universe, in the electronic rain and in orgaaaaaa-nic chemisty! Oh I loved it! The carbons and hydrogens and oxygens were my lifeline and boy, I loved it.

I mention DAV, because it was the first place I came in direct contact with computers. I opened up the DOS prompt and that was my first peek into the other world, one in which I would eventually belong. Quickly, I learnt to list files and write programs that told me 2 + 3 was 5. I was awed to learn that input and output devices existed and that I could actually touch them. You would want to know that my friends were already playing video games by this time, and some of them even had their own computers. I once pressed ctrl+alt+del because the computer asked me to, and lo, it shutdown! Obviously I did not know what that was, and I broke sweat. It was in the lab and I sincerely thought I had done some unrecoverable mistake and terminated the computer's life. By the time I gathered the guts to call the lab technician and told him my heinous deed, I was a nervous wreck. When he coolly switched on the goddamn thing with the swipe of a finger, and the monitor whirred to life, I knew I had fallen in love with the magic box, then and there.

I could never forget the counselling session for engineering admissions. It was the peak-est time of Indians craving for a seat in Computer Science or in Information Technnology. All around me, it felt like a slow-motion of students marching towards glory, those with seats in Computer Science. Fathers called for last-minute advices, Mothers prayed in temples, Sisters waited to show-off, families sat on the seat-edge. The whole of India came to a stand-still those two months in 1999, when all engineering seats were being fast-filled, especially those in computers. Management and Sponsored seats were suddenly an option for the poor government worker struggling to rake in money. I was probably one of the very few who wanted to do Mechanical Engineering in Anna University (I wanted that combo) and got it. "My son got a computer science seat, you didn't get one?" - Silence. "Infosys and Cognizant and TCS are calling and you chose Mechanical Engineering?" - Silence. "You really want to be a mechanic?" - (Gosh!) Silence. "Anna University? That's fine. But Mechanical Engineering? You are an intelligent boy, you should have chosen Computers" - Silence. All I wanted then was to do a phD in Thermodynamics. Seriously.

Seniors getting placed in Software Companies was the talk of the campus. They came in thousands and took in thousands. People talked of huge bench strength, strong onsite-offshore model and I heard of new terms like "Organizational Behavior", "Architectural Baseline" and "Growing Economy". The dual degree was offered in the second year and most of us grabbed the opportunity. This would change my life forever, the B.Tech in Information Technology in addition to B.E., in Mechanical Engineering. The C's and C plus plusses were romantic. Java was almost healing. I lost myself in computers, not because the world around me lost in it, but because I really liked it. But most of the people were caught in the wave, pushing themselves along with others, the synergy of the booming economy.

The time after graduation was one of the best! Indian culture became open-mided, and this concept of a "typical software engineer" came up. A typical software engineer is supposed to be ending every sentence with a "man" or "dude". He dresses like a hippie, except that the clothes are new. He wears faded jeans, talks of rock and jazz, comes to office with red eyes and unkempt hair, and has a small paunch. He parties, smokes, drinks - all a part of the software cult. Posters are everywhere - "Failed 10th? Failed 12th? Join G-NEET. Become a Software Engineer". Software was chosen as the last resort if you don't succeed in anything else. Why care when it is waiting? There were ads showing software managers wearing Armani Suits grabbing any guy who comes out a software learning centre. Sadly and oddly, they really did!

And the hunt was on! "24, Fair looking female, decent family, well brought-up, looking for a US-return Software Engineer" or "23, South-Indian Mallu girl, looking for a Software Engineer in US". All you had to do back then, to get yourself married was to go to the US. Even if it is just for three months, you did! Software Engineers were seen as visas themselves to settle the girls well in a foreign country. And it was rolling. "Where are you working? Haan? What is that? Mera beta working in Infosys. You know, Narayanmoorthy! Send your bio-daata to him, he will get you a job in Infosys". Mr. Narayanmoorthy became a household name. He deserves it, but not in this fashion. Then the recession hit! And it hit hard! "Hey, they tell me all Indians are coming back. Really? How can US do this to us?" - Because it's their f-country and they have the right! "Dude, I heard people are being laid off? True?" - Don't scare the hell out of me man.

The complaints against them pile up. The normal government worker is not able to accept the fact that they are being paid high. But it's not a 9-5 job. "These software engineers! They just sit in one place and they are paid so much!" - Why complain? No-one is paying if there is not a price for it. Software Engineers do work their a$$ off. So what, if there is a small party over the weekend? Is it wrong because you cannot afford it? "It spoils Indian Culture" - What spoils? Partying or beating up women for it? "Arey beta! I am too scared to look for a software engineer now. What if he loses his job?" - The most knowledgeable scheming Indian Aunties who start fretting about a girl's marriage the moment she is born, so you can't really blame them. Doctors are busy ragging juniors to death. Lawyers are busy protesting in courts and beating up students. Chartered Accountants are busy crunching numbers and planning. Software Engineers are busy partying, huh?

And the wave rolls! It goes on. I live in this world because I like it. I do want to do my masters, but I want to do it with experience, may be as honours or in research. I do want to work in computers because they run the world. They make satellites work, they generate your bills in shopping malls, they help you send mails to your children overseas, they help industries store data, they help in researching markets, they make software for your kid's learning, they are cool.

As I said to that guy who interviewed me long back - "I liked C, fell in love with C++, and married JAVA".

Ciao!

The Cost of Freedom

2008-12-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

I suppose I have to write this and find a way to save it through the end of us, so the next race of living things find out how humans terminated themselves.

Suppose some commander in an ultra-deep movement, with resources and influence all over the world thought of hatching a plan to potentially cause a war. A war needs two sides and there cannot be a better prospect than one country split into two, constantly pointing fingers at each other. With Srilanka engulfed in an internal war with the LTTE, there needs to be little said about the already prevailing tensions in the subcontinental area. It only needs a small trigger such as a group of 10 to 12 people shooting indiscriminately, to start speculations on a global basis as to who could be responsible. Speculations lead to confusions, confusions to accusations, accusations to summons and summons to wars. Idea has enlightened!

Suppose he decides to put together exactly such a group of young men who do not have anything to lose except their lives, whose love they have already been brainwashed out of. Suppose these men (boys) have always been told their only purpose in life is to lay it down for one common purpose. Suppose there are men (boys) in this world who wake up everyday thinking they are destined to die today. Suppose these young "recruits" have been rhetroically stressed to a point so it just takes less than a second to fire at someone without any private motive. Suppose their heart ticks only by the rush of insulin brought forth by seeing the fear in the eyes of someone whose death is in their hands. Recuriting has finished!

Suppose these men are re-brained to think that more blood is the only way to clean blood. Suppose the minds of these men has reached a level of fanatisicm where they just need to pull a trigger to convince themselves out of any doubt. Suppose they are trained rigorously in real combat conditions that are easily created by small terror plots, in which more innocent lives can be claimed, with the actual goal in mind. Suppose they are administered with a sense of power and money that they can never dream of otherwise. Suppose they are made to travel around the world with genuinely fake passports and trained in different parts to speak fluent English, Hindi and Arabic - Probably more languages too. Suppose they are spoken to often by the commander himself to keep their motivation levels up, to indirectly gain control of their senses and nerves and in the end, their lives itself. Suppose these men are adept enough to survive for long periods without food and sleep in conditions of extreme stress, when they feel normal is only when the heart ticks at the rate of 110 beats per second. Training is perfect!

Suppose resources are tapped and movements are made. Suppose plans are obtained and buildings are surveyed. Suppose docks are compromised and intelligence gets involved. Suppose spies are abundant and traitors are manipulated. Suppose hotels are recced and rooms are booked. Suppose cars move around and eyes pry. Suppose Cafes are chosen and vantage points identified. Suppose arms are abundant and kitchens are breached. Suppose the voyage began and the carnage completes. Suppose the war could happen. Planning is treacherous!

Suppose the men (boys) assemble and are given code names for the brief final stint they are about to pull off. Suppose they hijack a ship and arrive on the docks of an otherwise serene scenic Arabian sea. Suppose they split into groups and run away to pre-determined spots where more arms have already been made available. Suppose there is nothing more perfect for them than fire indiscriminately at men, women and even children in a railway station and hospital. Suppose it is just perfect for them to cystallize into luxurious hotels where people are prominent. Suppose the ever-hungry media, always craving for some news hit a golden goose, a bumper prize coverage for days together, providing a perfect platform to spread their message of terror. Suppose there are enough drugs, guns and time to kill a sea of people who all love their lives and relatives and friends. Suppose it is an added bonanza to actually kill the police and army, which would also salvage some pride for the operation. Suppose people cry, suppose they shout, suppose they run, suppose they die. Suppose the men (boys) get the opportunity to kill thousands of men among which could be Indians, Americans, the British, Germans and Jews. ATS chief Hemant Karkare dies. DIG Ashok Kamte dies. Encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar dies. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan dies. Havildar Chander dies. Havildar Gajendar Singh dies. A lot of others die a martyr's death. Operation begun!

Suppose it is conveniently spoiled. Suppose only one gets caught and the others die. Suppose the one who is caught has got thousand ways to die, but he chooses to get caught instead. Suppose he plants information that he is from Pakistan. Suppose he says he has been trained by an ultra-deep movement, based out of Pakistan, in Pakistan, for an year. Suppose he plants information that he has been trained by an Ex-Pakistani soldier. Suppose he plants much more information, relating everything to Pakistan. Suppose the Indian Government is led to believe there is enough proof to take offence. Suppose Pakistan just shrugs it off by promising co-operation. Suppose there are people who are not satisfied with the investigations and play dirty politics. Suppose there is rampage everywhere. Suppose there are borders of uncertainity, of an en-masse of explosives hanging about in air, and just anyone could light one fuse and the fire spreads. Suppose the ideology is achieved without even preaching it. Suppose anything could be led to. Suppose, just suppose, there is World War Three !!

Suppose it is that shudderingly easy ..

Whereas, continuing life in the same shade is not easy. I am an Indian, not able to digest the fact that this could happen to Mumbai, a place I love and long to go to. I am an Indian, not able to believe that the doves in the shore of Arabian sea could flutter their wings to echo the sounds of gunshots rather than those of setting sun. I am an Indian, not able to digest the dirty politics played by politicians of this country to gain some leverage for themselves and their party even at the mouth of an impending disaster. I am an Indian, not able to convince myself there will be peace anymore in India. I am an Indian, not able to control the tears that pour out even as I write this, thinking about the funerals of the brave men who laid their lives down for us, so we could wake up to one more day of freedom. I am an Indian who loves the world, not driven by fanaticism that my country is superior, but by a fantasy that all countries are equal.

Freedom comes at a special cost - The cost of some unknown selfless lives which never can be compensated anything with!

Ink Drops in Crisis

2008-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

It dawns on me at 4 AM now that I am suddenly not able to write. The ink is just not getting to my hands. Looking back at the blogs of late, I havent written anything much compared to the previous years. God save this blogspace!

The Role of Science in Modern Society

2008-08-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Role of Science in Modern Society

Science is a very important factor in the modern society. In fact, a society is termed “Modern” mainly because of scientific improvements and the growth of economy that it brings along. Science makes life a lot easy in the modern world, so people are more efficient and can get things done in a easy way.

The most important scientific development in the modern society is in the field of communication. Internet has made sure that people all over the world can communicate fast and secure. Mobile phones have modernized the world and have become a part of life. Emails, Cheap telephone networks and even faster travel are all result of various scientific inventions in the 20th and 21st century.

Medicine is another field that has benefited most because of various scientific inventions and discoveries. The modern doctor is a lot more intelligent and sophisticated. He can deal with a wide variety of diseases at the same time. Vaccines and prevention mechanisms are in place for diseases like cancer, tuberculosis and leprosy which were once considered fatal. One of the biggest achievements of modern day science is the eradication of small pox all over the world. Treatments for heart ailments, brain diseases and other such serious diseases have all been possible because of science.

Science has also influenced a wide range of areas like space research, energy and fuels, computers, electronics and genetics. The common man in a modern society is more aware of happenings around the world than he once was. The world has been made a safer place to live because of improvements in medical field.

However, science is both a boon and a bane to the modern society. It has also contributed in some negative areas like bomb development and terrorism. It is upon us to make sure we reap benefits out of the scientific knowledge that is around us, and not put it to negative use. Man may use science to satisfy his needs for more money, ease of life and knowledge. But we should also make sure that we don’t use it in areas that might lead to drastic negative impact like wars and bombs. In short, science is a tool that man has mastered over time and a tool is only as useful as its master handles it.

Sravan Kumar C S

III std 'C' section

No-Complaint Day

2008-07-23T01:52:00.000-07:00

I came up with this concept a few months back and I am sure it is a great success, as you will see. It's pretty simple, what you do is refrain from complaining one full day; Complaining of all sorts. We all know that the human ethos wants to be happy always and never to be sad, though in the real world it is not always possible. It is, infact, rarely possible. So, as a bypass, we take to complaining to let loose the emotions rather than seeking a solution for the problems. And the clumsy blob of muscles and intertwined nerves siting there at the top of everyone's head ceases to function in an emotional state. And hence, this concept of No-Compaint Day! No complaints for 24 hours please!

I need to do this because there are a lots of things to complain about, like the following.

The autorick I took yester morning had the wrong meter. This one just gets over the top of my head, I hate autorickshaws that do not run the correct meter. I have stopped riding autos that dont have a digital meter fit in, though there a lot of autos that still run on old meter which are meant to be wrong. I wish I could make all ricks fit a digital meter .....

I wish I had that code to finish today, so pissing of me to have finished it last night itself. Now I have to wait till the afternoon so the changes are published and I can start working again. Don't bother if you dont understand, I don't either. But I just wish I had something worthwhile to do this morning. I hate sitting idle .....

The guy over the other side of this wing has a mouth that won't close. He talks incessantly that even his team-mates consider him incorrigible. And he pokes his nose constantly into others' email box and I wonder how they put up with him. If he had been around me, I would lock my computer the moment he comes anywhere closer than 10 yards. I don't know, I just can't put up with people like such .....

The food I ate was too cold, the icecream had become a milkshake and the cow that gave the milk that gave the curd had stood in the sun for too long. I wish the food was atleast a tard better for the cost we pay .....

The weather had been morose all this week. You could never say when it would rain and when the sun would pop out of its cloud bed. I can't carry an umbrella around like a schoolmaster and my routine is badly disturbed because of this .....

The neighbour's dog was barking too loudly in the morning and woke me up at 11 AM itself .....

The mouse skips a few curves and the keyboard is stuck .....

I am feeling lousy .....

I am bored .....

Lastly, because it is a No-Complaint day, I can't complain about any of these .....

Or, rather, did I do just that? Sigh, I can't help it, maybe tomorrow .....

Water Pebbles

2008-06-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Colorful in the eyes is the pebble,
A dancing damsel, masterpiece of art,
Wearing a cheerful ensemble,
Blessing with her benevolent heart.

The water that flows over the pebble,
Protects it night and day,
Transparently clear and lovingly stable,
The two are forever to stay.

The Violated Subconscience

2008-05-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

It was a normal-blended day, one in which no specific incident, that would trigger a slight anamoly of senses to butterfly its effect into subconscience, happened. The day was equally hot as the rest of the mid-year summer, it was only a matter of minutes before the heat waves crawled into the cornea of any crackpot who dared to venture out, causing flourescent circles of crimson and yellow and green, intersecting like a pattern of multiple olympic rings. He dared the sun only once for lunch and was back, as fast as he went, to the copious comfort of his airconditioner. Earlier, he had finished 'The Summons' by John Grisham and had started with 'The Lost World' by Michael Crichton. It wiped out the rest of his day, and when darkness had swelled like a pregnant cow all over the coast, he saw his parents sleeping just beneath the bed on the cool floor, and tired circles swirled in front of his eyes as he fell asleep ...

... and that is when it began!

It more or less started in a fashionable way, quite contrary to what lies ahead - he heard the radio somewhere very near him. Infact he heard the music beats as they slowly inched their way up his consciousness, but he was clinging to his dear sleep like a baby that was determined not to leave its mother's hold. As persuasive as only a father can be, the music won in the end. He listened to the music for a while hoping it would stop, but it did not. He wondered where the music was coming from and for a moment, pondedred if it could be his imagination, but then dropped the idea as soon as it occured because the music was crystal clear, it was almost calling out to him. He gave up on his attempts to salvage some sleep, determined to find out what was the source of the disturbance.

He was wandering in the region of lost sleepers who are reluctant to wake up, where reality handshakes with the bizarre, where the control of consciousness is handed over to the subconscious. He woke up and on sheer instinct, tried to open his eyes only to find he couldn't - atleast not as a normal man would. He felt a cemented layer of flashing screen in front of his eyes, a heavyweight pressing on his eyelids and he could not determine if his eyes were open. But images popped up in the flashing screen and in that moment, he knew he had opened his eyes. But in some strange way, it wasn't full - the perception of images in front of him was aberrant and lacked details, and almost artificial, but almost is still only almost. In a moment, it settled and he was able to see his bedroom, but the artificiality and heavyweight lingered. It was like a projection screen dropped suddenly in front of a theatre, and what was projected was not from your back, but from its front.

He immediately recognized the wrong details - but no attempt was made to hide the mistake. His mother was not sleeping where he saw her last, but a well six foot ahead. And he could not see his father. He made an attempt and then realized his head was not turning to the side but he managed to realize his father's presence - the voluntary nerves were only partially working, like they were commanded by some source other than his brain. The commands they carried were freely intercepted, the wavelengths read at an astonishing speed and freely contaminated. He managed to call out to his mother and ask if she could hear the music. She mumbled a "No, go to sleep". He was surprised to see the voice coming from where he now saw his mother in the artificial facade, though he knew the reality was different. This was when fear struck first! He wasn't sure anymore. The picture of his father now became a bit clearer. It was like a system had initialized, the dimensions of its co-ordinates were fed with a few known clear boundary values and then, the system was slowly self-adjusting to the ground reality. He wished it would come to normalcy soon. But then, there was the unexplained music! So who was waking him up? The music kept coming and so did the confusion and fear! And as abruptly as it started, the music stopped. The fear did not.

He wasn't thinking clearly. He realized something had taken control over him. He realized what was fed into his senses was not reality. But then, the system made no adjustments this time. It wanted to intimidate him, it wanted to make him understand that he was being intimidated. He somehow had to get through, but did not know how. He submitted to the intimidation. He was truly afraid and plainly irritated at the heavy-set eyelids, but he was the victim. And as with all victims, he hoped he doesnt have to endure the adversities for long. He was wrong.

Murphy's rule says "If something can go wrong, it will". It was almost important that he should feel the necessity to wash his face now. He stood from his bed, and the facade moved with him. He was not sure where to keep his legs for the fear of stamping on his parents. He was not clear anymore who was where. He was definitely certain what he was seeing was not right, his instincts told him that. He managed to scramble past his mother, and came out of the bedroom. The bathroom door was just there, where it was installed. He made a gutsy attempt to cross the empty space between the bedroom and the bath. He stood and poured mugs after mugs of water on his face, but they fell a few feet ahead. After a sufficient number of futile attempts, he was terrified and shivering and gave up. He rocketed back to the bedroom, sat on his bed and suddenly felt cold. The water had after all wet his face. He wasnt sure if it was really the water or if the system was feeding in the feeling.

Time passed and he did not clearly comprehend what was happening. But the forces were kept in full throttle and he was terrified. It stifled him. He woke up his mother and asked her if she could see his father. She said yes and fell asleep again. He felt miserable. He wanted a human touch, he wanted to feel the warmth of another human being closeby. He crawled out of his bed and lied down next to his mother, where he saw her in the facade. And he was bolted when he found her there. He hugged her tight and cried out loud. He knew this couldn't be real. He confessed to his mother, who said it was nothing and asked him to sleep. He kept crying, all his attempts to understand, ending futile. The images were a blur of the war between conscience and perception, constantly reminding him of the dread he was going through.

After sometime, he found himself in the bed, but did not realize how he came to be there. He was still shaking, still terrified, still crying. And this time, Murphy came in the form of urinary bladder. He went to the toilet, found the door half-open. He tried to push it open, but it wouldn't budge beyond one point. He managed to squeeze in. He had the audacity to look behind the door. He almost peed his pants when he saw another one behind, just like the one he squeezed through. Clothes were hanging on the doors and he dared not touch anything. He relieved himself as fast as possible, but not as clean. He had a flashing reminder, a snapshot of some email that he had received a few days back, but it had nothing to do with the blasphemy happening now. He fled from the toilet, made futile attempts to wash his hands and feet and ventured back into the bedroom.

He was praying desperately as he was about to enter the bedroom. He hoped for the umpteenth time for things to come to normal, the past hour making no sense. It had driven him to the point of being terrified with himself, inspite of the narcissist that he is. He slowly rolled the door open ...

... and the facade lifted! At exactly the same moment, he walked over the border of consciousness, his eyes opened, he woke up and sat on the bed.

The continuity was apalling and the after-effects were terrifying. For a couple of minutes, he almost cried. He saw his father and mother where he saw them sleeping earlier. But he had to call out to his father, hear his words to be sure. He had to see they were where they were. He did not blink for a long time, and relived his dream. The hands were trembling and the face was cold. Most of the details were still very clear and the fear he felt lived through. He wished he had the magical cookie that he usually dreams of, to shake him out of his reverie and make him smile. The sooner, the better.

The strangest part of this dream was that it was in close touch with reality. The most chilling part of the experience was that it was almost real. The end was hand in hand with the remedy. The dream would end only when the facade lifted. The facade would lift only when his senses came back. And the senses would come back only when he woke up. This was not a dream where you wake up after it ended, but you have to wake up for it to end. In addition to the horrifying events, it was the nature of the dream itself that rendered its full effect.

He had no choice but to write it, to come over it.

Twenty Six

2008-04-29T23:44:00.000-07:00

Twenty five, the last few days of boyhood,
Twenty five it is, since I was born,
No, I don't wanna go over silver,
Twenty five, I would rather stay upon.

No more "hez still growin' up"
No more "tz only a hiccup"
No more "he'll learn to be wise"
No more "his childishness is nice"
But on the other side of twenties,
My life is full at large,
Shoes may not or shoes may shine,
And my mistakes are none but mine.

A last bid of bye to clingin' adolescence,
But I can't bite dust anymore in a brawl,
And get away with it in a overhaul.
You know I cant get into small tricks,
Coz am twenty-six!

The cart of life goes Rickety-Dickety,
And I will soon be marching on my thirty,
Babies with soft hands and orange feet,
Yeah, you know the feat,
Calling me Dad and Athimber and Chithappa,
With staring eyes of stunning awe,
And you realize you have the next generation;
What you were once, reflected to you,
You are one up in the queue!

Life is about growin' up, not growin' old,
Age doesn't matter, stay young at heart,
Oh yea, people do say so, so bold;
But it is not theirs but your fart!

Twenty six is jus' around the corner,
Inviting me with speculating eyes ..
Twenty five years has taught me this,
Let me tell you what life is:
To live life sublime,
Live it one year at a time!

Know Your Toilet

2008-03-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

For sometime now, I had been pondering about writing on this topic, more as I see unclean toilets and those that have not been used properly. This blog is not to be seen as a yucky article or as wasted keystrokes of an insomniac moron, but rather as a public awareness campaign, the sorts usually done by NGOs - a small difference: given a choice, I would rather be a capitalist!

First and foremost, we have to understand that the potty is not a place to wrench away the guts with abhorrence. This is a place of spiritual pleasure where one can download the mental stress in the form of physical release of unwanted shit, literally. This is a place to revere and wonder and gape at with awe and reflect it upon our own life. What else can gobble up tons and tons of shit thrown over from the top and still manage to sit calm and work relentlessly? (If you got reminded of some colleague of yours when you read that last statement, the pun was unintended!). This is the domicile of congeniality, a mandatory spot that demands your visit everyday, failing which you end up spending your subconscious sphere worrying about not relieving your intestines. Hence, we are not talking about an unearthly astronomical gadget that smells of or eats up unwanted digested waste, but rather of a friendly part of your home or office that demands certain moral responsibility and ownership from every individual.

Second and secondarily, we have to understand that a toilet does not comprise only of the potty that we just prided so much about. It has other things that we will deal with shortly, that you will be surprised how you missed noticing them (!). These are essentials of any toilet and maintaining these is our responsibility if you want yourself and everyone else around you to be a neat toiletarian (soon to be added in dictionary).

A toilet is to be as aesthetically designed as any other part of a home or office. This is the first step towards maintaining cleanliness. It should evoke that unknown feeling of orderliness in you. It should struggle to overcome the chaos that your mind is usually defaulted to and make you look forward to a pleasant experience of five minutes (or longer, depending on what you had for dinner last night). An ideal color could be anything brilliantly different from your living area or working place. Bright colors usually give a jolly ride experience - yellow, green, blue and other such aesthetically pleasing areas of the rainbow. Boring and intellectually non-stimulating colors such as brown, maroon etc., should be refrained from. They discourage a healthy use of the toilet and make a person want to run away before pulling up the pants.

Enough attention should be given to the location of various assets. It is a generally accepted notion that the toilet should rather be in a corner of the restroom and the area in the middle be used for bathing or shaving. Design your space with your head. A bathroom could turn into a romantic rollercoaster, depending on what you choose to use it for. It is ideal to have quite some space allocated for your bathroom so you can fit in a bath tub, a shower, a wide mirror, a locker, a wash basin, a toilet (with good-looking equipments) and enough moving area. By enough moving area, I mean more than enough space for at least two people. A big bathroom is usually a good stimulant to all kinds of metabolism that the human body undergoes. And if you are a crazy romantic, move the potty as distant as possible from the main area. It is also advisable to locate it as distant as possible from where you keep your toothbrushes, because I remember reading this somewhere: Everytime you flush, tiny molecules of dirt, germ and you-know-what can leap into air for about 10 (or more) meters. (I have been keeping my toothbrush in the kitchen ever since). Keeping all this in mind, the ideal place for the potty is the far end of your bathroom. Designers should make sure toilets are fed with fresh air using an air duct and have enough head space. Maintenance personnel should make sure there are repellents and fresheners handy.

Now comes the most important part of this write-up: using it. Please sit completely, do not strain your legs. As I mentioned before, it is a pleasurable 5-minute experience, depending on how you see it. Relax your mind and stretch your limits. Sulk in the comfort and forget your worries. Subject yourself to the luxury. Accept it as a part of your routine life. You do not have to exercise precaution to close your mouth, but do not make a sound when you try, for the benefit of others. Rather give it its time. The more you wait, the more it waits. But you will emerge victorious if you hang on, patience is the key. And once the gates are opened, thy shall hear what thy predecessors hath heard! Thy shall revel in the ecstasy that all thy colleagues hath enjoyed! The noble heavenly imperial ambrosia of an exquisitely crafted, perennially pleasing, serenely soothing, blazingly peaceful plop of a solid rushing into an eagerly waiting liquid medium in a continuous random stream of motion (movement, i mean). Lengthen the moment, strengthen the control and pull (push?) yourself up - If you had remembered to latch the door, none is seeing! It is your private moment to glory!

So much for personal pleasure! Now comes the moral responsibility that you owe to others waiting in line - Please dispose your mess. It is your toilet (OK, the company's toilet) and it is your duty to leave it the way you would want it to be when you step in. Put yourself in the shoes of the person coming next. Get up, remember to flush adequately and clean yourself. Dispose the tissues into the bin, not the potty. Most corporate toilets clog because of flushed tissues. If you know where your food should go into, you are supposed to also know where it should go out to. If you use water to clean, make sure you leave the place dry. There is no harm in using a lot of tissues to dry up the place in whatever fashion you prefer, assuming you are in the habit of washing your hands with soap at the end of the exercise. Cleaning up your own mess is a bare minimum courtesy expected of you anywhere, more so in this case. When the next person steps in, give him the same environment that you gave yourself. It is the least you can do for your colleague. And once you are done with all these, walk away in pride and satisfaction!

Things to Note

1. Leave the place dry.

2. Do not clog the flush with tissues; Use the bin.

3. Think a lot, intellectually i mean. There is no better place to instigate your intellectual stigma than the gaping hole.

4. Put your mobile in silent mode.

5. Try not to fart, if it is an office restroom. But if the pressure is beyond what you can take, let go and refrain from thinking.

6. When you step out, if there are people outside, see them in the eye, do not squirm. Most importantly, Do Not Shake Hands! If someone is raring to go in once you come out, go ahead and say "Have fun mate!"

7. Keep Smilin!

Moving on

2008-03-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

On sturdy roots that spread all the way down,
And a colossal trunk a shade of woody brown,
Stands a gargantuan mammoth tree,
On the curving offshore ..
An Oracle that people adore!

Vivid flowers dance around happy chirping birds,
Some flashy and some smiling, all in all nerds,
Sweet smell wafting thro' the water,
Rejoicing on their kinship ..
Life around a silicon chip!

Growing up together is a dream come true,
For they see each other tough times through,
A gang of brothers who care,
And they lived in peace ..
Life was flowing at ease!

One day a bird spread its wings, to other woods,
And found its nest sweeter with better goods,
Rest of them were in a flurry,
To miss their friend of long ..
Flustered about their happy song!

The news was a bolt and hearts it did pierce,
The birds gathered around with eyes of tears,
And wished their friend good luck,
One bird less in the green lawn ..
But life is all about moving on!

The chirps will continue and the smiles will last,
For friends they are through sun rain and frost,
They promised to meet oft,
Times may change, however ..
Sweet memories will last forever!

RadhaKrishna

2008-02-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

மானாட மயிலாட விண்ணோடு முகிலாட
காற்றோடு இலையாட மலரோடு வண்டாட
மதிமயக்கும் மாலையிலே மண்ணுலகம் எழிலாட
தேவர்கள் உளமாறத் துதிபாடிக் கொண்டாட
கருவண்ணன் மணிவண்ணன் கார்குழலில் விளையாட

சலங்கைகள் ஜதியாக புன்னகையே இசையாக
தேன்சுரக்கும் இதழ்களிலே தீங்கனியே சுவையாக
மெல்லிடையே வடிவாக மென்மையெனும் உருவாக

மெய்மறந்து கண்ணனுடன் இசைபாடும் ராதா !
காண்பவர் அனைவரின் உள்ளம்கவ ராதா !!

Winged Warriors

2008-01-13T01:48:00.000-08:00

Roach Roach Cockroach Cockroach wherever you turn,
Don't they run, Don't they hide, quite very stubborn!
Stare at me with moustaches that look like long long guns,
Strike at me with speed of light from sides and backs and fronts.

One beneath the kitchen stove ate my potatoes,
While one behind the bathroom door kept me on my toes.
Hither Tither fast they crawl once they see the moon,
And before I know them all, are in every room.

Warriors from the Jupiter sent over space,
To kill my peace and vanish leaving no trace;
Floated across to earth in masses, brown and bright,
Souls of menace who know no fright,
Turning dreams into nightmares,
Crawling on my skin all through night.

Chut blows the broom, Whoosh sprays the Hit,
Tup beats the Sandals, they don't move a bit,
But mock at me with a sneer in their face,
Skimper across rocking along with no disgrace.

In the bag, on the floor, over the bathroom sink,
Wardrobe, slippers, pipes and tubes, all in their link,
Zig Zag Zoom they spread slow but look at them, oh my!
Crawling cockroaches are better than their friends that fly,
I give up my fight even before it begins and cry and cry and cry.

After all is done and said,
White blood is thicker than red!
And of all lives max and min,
I know which convinced Charles Darwin;
The Survival of the fittest!
For these are the best!

And if one day humans reach the end of their story,
Cockroaches will outlive them till beyond glory!

And We Say We Are Broad Minded ..

2008-01-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

.. Not-Conservative state, huh?

Bombed Morning and Despondent Hopes

2007-12-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

The night was restless, he could not sleep. It had been this way for sometime now, in and out of perspicacity, living his hazy dreams in semi-conscious purple and blue drops, afraid to snap to reality to face his loneliness. He knew the day was approaching and that put him at ease. Atlast! He had planned it just two weeks before and because of lack of time, he decided to execute it in the morning itself. He could see it all. The huge moving masses, the snake-like chain of targets coming to a halt at the exact time he had planned, the movement of the laptop, the blaring sound of the horn, the lean thump, then the sudden surge forward, the inertia pushing him backward, people's face twisting, eyes with dreams unfulfilled blinking awkwardly at the sudden sound, the stench of human bodies around, and then nothing. He would be travelling home, to his dreams, to peace, and to her. She would be waiting for him with upturned curved lips that would kiss him on the forehead till his heartbeat reduces from thumping hard and put an end to his loneliness. Her open arms will be waiting to hold him and put him to rest. He would be travelling to where his heart belonged.

With these thoughts running his mind, sleep did not come easy. The added weight of the plan ahead and that it is early in the morning made him queasy. Others in his clan on a mission like this usually chose to execute it in the evening or night when people were relaxed, returning back home. That would be the ideal time to make the move. He fiddled the TV remote on and off, trying to think of something different. She was everywhere - playing football for liverpool in ESPN, fighting against the martians in star movies, singing in a music channel. Her thoughts made him look forward to the morning which will take him closer to her. Love filled his heart and without her by the side, he did not know where to direct it. The claws of loneliness gripped him in the dark echelons of the cold night and he hated it. He wanted sunshine, he wanted the light, he wanted the horn, he wanted her breath on him, he wanted to sleep in peace under her care. Yet, there he was unable to put her off his mind, every minute craving for her presence.

He knew he had to wake up early, an unusual practice. The plan was early in the morning and he knew then a lot of people would be missing their day. They were all sleeping in peace, looking forward to the morning like him, only that they do not know why he is going to do what he is about to do. He knew he would not make up his mind in the sleepy wakings, so he set the device on before he went to sleep. As he was doing it, he realized how little time he had ahead. He double checked the device, yes, 5 AM, yes again, 5 AM. That would be the time he expected the device to set itself off into mild beeps first and then stronger ones. He hoped he would wake up to live the moment. To realize atlast that the time he had waited for has come. After seeing the signal blinking on the device, he pushed himself to sleep.

He woke up at 6.30 AM and realized the alarm he had set in his mobile did not wake him up. The morning train to his hometown which he had booked two weeks earlier was just leaving the station and he has missed it!

Review Corner - Billa 2007!

2007-12-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

Note: This is quite a long review, but that's how my night has been after seeing the movie. Read it fully, am sure it's worth it, more so if you are an Ajith fan.

Before I go on to launch an attack on the movie, I request all Superstar fans to forget Billa 2007 as a bad dream. I am a neutral viewer as far as So-Called-Ultimate-Star Ajith Kumar is concerned and have been a victim of repeated let-downs and poor screenplay in most of thala's movies. After a not-so-good performance by varalaru, a box-office bomb by Aalwar and an unfortunately mediocre satisfaction by Kireedom, Ajith should have been more careful in choosing his movies, but the unlearning actor seems to be doting on replaying his errors. I am a Vijay fan, yes, but I do not hold any aversion to Ajith as such, though that feeling is slowly but steadily building up against his movies. I should say that, in this matter, I have been more patient than most kollywooders.

Though the plot is the same as the original movie, the screenplay is lamentable, PERIOD! Ajith has played an international don in this remake of the 1980 block-buster trend-setter movie 'Billa', performed then by the only person who can ever be Billa - Rajinikanth! The movie has been shot all in Malaysia and the backdrop is gorgeous. Vishnu Vardhan, amidst all expectations and hype, has managed to blunder in maintaining the flow and the onscreen transition of characters has ended up maladroitly. The first half felt like watching clips of a movie that keeps the viewer constantly hoping for a grip on the story.The set and the camera reminds one of Don (by Shahrukh), one could see its influence by large, though it managed to come nowhere near the attempt.

Ajith's introduction scene in the airport hangar is a balanced experiment to portray his adept skills and attitude, though it leaves behind an acidic smell for those who expected more. The car chase, with its drifts, is the best pick in the movie. The camera has done a great job here. There are innumerable local and international don's and mafia's named fashionably like Steve and Mike and Mark and John and Tom and Dick and Harry who do business with Billa to desperately prove he is an international don. The scenes lack a subtle transition from one to another and Ajith's performance is vacant, sometimes even frozen. The dialogue delivery is in monotone and occasionally, I even looked around for some assistance from my neighbours to help me understand why a particular dialogue was scripted, but they were equally clueless. Some even sighed in pregnant silence, though some Ajith fans made up for the embarassing moments with a few whistles and I prayed to God to forgive the poignant souls.

Nayanthara and Namitha are the ladies. Nayanthara has done her homework well and god knows how she lost all that weight. The transition from Surya's 'Ghajini' has been mega-astronomical, her attire and style reminding us vaguely of Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider. OK, this comment comes highly biased from someone who likes Nayanthara, but her efforts to add style are commendable. From the stylish diva, she transforms to a regular heroine in the second half because, well, you know how some people cant take a lady for a gangster. Namitha, on the other hand, looks voluptuously STUPID. The stylish don has a very bad taste! Her attempt to prove her love for the don by pressing a trigger on her forehead goes in vain as he forgets to load the gun. Oh, how I wish he hadn't forgotten! Because then, we wouldn't have had to put up with the 'Nan meendum' song. It is very difficult not to squirm in your seat as she dances for the song, it is the perfect time to take a leak. The camera is at all wrong angles and the eyes are totally strained, not to mention the ears. What makes someone cast Namitha on the screen, beats me! She is too big for the bigscreen, you get the point right? We like mass heroes, yes, but mass heroines? A capital NO! But then some gentlemen might not agree with me here, but yours truly, I do not care!

The music by Yuvan is forgettable. The only savior in the movie is the song 'My name is Billa' that resembles Don, not bad. 'Vethalaiya potten di' will do good only with some whistles. When will Ajith dance? Someone should tell him dancing is not all about moving hips to 1 .. 2 .. 3 and shaking the fingers in 'Cheena-Thaana' style. There is more to dancing, and yes, that's why I dont try. Ajith, though, has to. 'Seval kodi' is a passing attempt but why will someone wear a freaky jean with chains and a colourful shirt for a supposed-to-be-devotional song? BGM repeats the theme that is the only good factor in the music arena. As far as comedy is concerned, Santhanam doesn't help much. Some of the look-alike-Ajith's dialogues with Prabhu have a hinting touch of smile in them, though they dont haunt. Lots of serious dialogues abound as launching pads for 'Lollu Sabha', am looking forward to that.

If you aren't an optimist, then this movie bores you to pain, disappoints you to the extreme and sucks mindblowingly. The only good positives about the movie are Ajith's charisma, Nayanthara's elegance, Prabhu's sincerity and Malaysian Geography, but that won't make a movie. Everything else is an injustice to the original. The movie would have been another 'Tirupati' if not for Rajini's brand and the hype. Ajith and Vijay have done onething in similar. After good performances in Kireedom and Pokkiri respectively, they have handed over forgettable stints in the name of 'Azhagiya Tamil Magan' and 'Billa'. An internal comparison between ATM and Billa would land the latter one step above in the podium, but then who compares rotten eggs (though I did just that)? As I was leaving, I overheard a pair saying they could have watched the original Billa at home and I thought I should echo that medicinal relief here. I am looking forward to a relentless attack by devoted Ajith fans claiming this movie as a great hit, yet again, but they did the same with movies like Red, Paramasivam and Aalwar, so let's not get there. It takes valiantly brilliant efforts to fault a movie like Billa and it takes an 'Ajith' to do just that.

Final verdict - 'Ajith's Billa, gaali Kalla.' (I did think of other things here, yea!).

For you, a thousand times over ..

2007-12-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

A response to 'For you, a thousand times over' (click here to read) by Prathiba. Inspired from 'Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini, this is my opinion of what Hassan would have said to Amir after the latter redeems his guilt.

Dark in these tunnels of endless abyss,
Fire around me burning my flesh,
I am tumbling down as my soul is wasted,
Leaving behind memories of childhood,
Brothers and sisters crying for peace,
No more colourful kites above our trees.

I protect you as I always did,
People who were fed from the same breast,
Played in greens peaceful and placid,
That do not exist anymore,
Replaced by faces cruel and fearest,
That brought blood and honour to floor.

My love was selfless, do not pay,
Sleep in peace for I am with the lord,
Let your heart not be heavy to weigh,
In my heart, you were never abhorred.

Only when offended, a sin is a sin ..
When they are led by the same light within,
There is no offence between kith and kin ..

Is this the absolution of a curse that was my birth?
Is this the exculpation of a guilt that was my death?
Tears well up in my eyes,
But this time for I am happy, And I see you smile ..
I shall forever hold your weight, and bend lower,
Yes! For you, a thousand times over ..

Crickocracy

2007-11-24T06:50:00.000-08:00

November 24 2007, Saturday
New Delhi
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced a new policy of rule-laying, amidst a thick cloud of doubts and speculation in the minds of selectors and players, and in general the masses. Ever since the BCCI made a joke of itself and cricket, (by first revoking the rights of selectors to write or speak in media and then coming forward to compensate Dilip Vengsarkar, the chief selector, for the loss he might incur thereupon), there has been a steady stream of reactions from all facets of decision makers of in India, namely, the selectors, the media and the politicians. (The players have been deliberately left out from this list because all they are allowed to do freely is take "drinks break". And if possible, bowl and bat with constraints because performance matters). The BCCI has launched a hassle-free programme to automatically enforce and drive the rules and have fittingly named it "Rule of the Day".

"Rule of the Day is a genius idea proposed, discussed and approved, all by Mr. Sharad Pawar himself. Now that this comes into effect, none from the BCCI will talk to the media henceforth. Infact no authorities, including Mr. Sharad Pawar himself will discuss cricket in public and will not be answerable to any questions you might ask us (not that we answered them before). The media is asked to come to BCCI office in Delhi every morning to collect a written announcement that will declare the 'rule of the day'. We will be declaring exactly one rule per day and anyone related to cricket is bound by it", said Mr. Niranjan Shah, Seceretary of the BCCI.

Our own correspondent adds from New Delhi:
This startling announcement from the BCCI has now created (c)ripples all along the hearts of players and selectors. An unnamed source close to us in BCCI informed us that this step was inevitable, as the number of rules and their implications were difficult to manage and maintain. A sweeper has supposedly overheard an important covered discussion where the authorities were deciding if Rule A was actually contradicting Rule B, both of which were brought into effect immediately after Greg Chappel resigned as the Indian Coach. There is no way Rule B can be revoked now as that will contradict Rule C, which goes hand in hand with Rule A. This ended up revoking Rule A itself and now BCCI is left unable to implement even rule B as they decided it affects their internal revenue.

Further more, a close source in the BCCI informed us that the board has approached a top-notch information company to develop a software system which will decide if a rule can be launched without contradicting the existing set of rules. As the budget for this system reduces the income of BCCI, they have decided against it and Dilip Vengsarkar has been advised to learn Java and Database technologies to develop an inhouse rule-laying system, strictly on a honorary basis.

- Rotters

Novemeber 25 2007, Sunday
New Delhi
'Rule of the Day' came into effect. With effect from today, no player wil sign autographs on and off the field. Apparently, this decision came after the video cameras displayed Sachin Tendulkar signing some autograph books for little children when the match was being played. Rumours say that the BCCI chief has received complaints from the team manager saying other players want to field in the boundary so they can sign autographs too. Besides, some sponsors felt standing in the boundary will market their brand better to the crowd than in the in-field. However, because some players other than the bowler and the wicket keeper are needed inside the circle for effective fielding, the manager had to bring this to the notice of BCCI immediately. Sharad Pawar did not have any comments to offer as has already been laid out - none from the BCCI or the team or the management or the selectors can now (conveniently) communicate to the media. This is definitely bound to reduce the sales of Bournvita that had been giving Sachin-signed bats free. "There is nothing else to offer with the drink anyway. We were relying on Sachin to sell it to kids, now we have no option but to chak de", sources inside Bournvita Marketing department were quoted saying.

- Rotters

Novemeber 26 2007, Monday
New Delhi
'Rule of the Day' continues. No selector can select! From now on, the BCCI management will hand over a list of 15 names to the selectors who have to analyze their performances scrupulosuly unbiased and then select a 15-member squad for the up-coming series. Dilip Vengsarkar could not make a comment on this rule when approached, but his face showed like a constipated patient who finally had loose motion. He seemed to be happy that there was loose motion at last as his task had been cut out to just replicating the names in a different order, but still worried about the constipated rule that he can't write his columns in newspapers. It was almost unbelievable when he quoted last week that media writing was his only income, but considering no sponsors would reach out to Dilip Vengsarkar for advertisements, this is perfectly possible. May be, cellophene tapes could show him plastered across the mouth, and with BCCI's rule-making policy backfiring, somewhere else too!

- Rotters

November 27 2007, Tuesday
New Delhi
Rule of the Day: Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone will not be allowed to enter the city where a cricket match is being played; Even Ranji Trophy matches. Additionally, Om Shanti Om will also be stopped from screening in these cities. MS Dhoni is disappointed about not allowing Deepika but is happy Shahrukh khan will not tag along anymore. Shahrukh breached BCCI's rule by commenting to the media about this. He is quoted to have said it was only a coincidence that Deepika was in the same stadium as him, where India is playing an international cricket match and that he himself was very surprised she was sitting next to him in most of the matches. He added saying he does not need cricket as the platform to market his movies and finished his interview saying "om shanti om".

-Rotters

November 28 2007, Wednesday
New Delhi
Rule of the Day: The media shall not comment about 'Rule of the Day'. Anyone who writes anything extra about the Rule or comments on it will be stopped middle way and handcuf .. "hey what the ..! who are you guys? how did you come into the office? Hey take these cuffs off my han..."

- Rotters

November 29 2007, Thursday
New Delhi
Rule of the Day: ~~None can publish the Rule of the Day~~

- Rotters

November 30 2007, Friday
New Delhi
Rule of the Day:

- Rotters

December 1 2007, Saturday
Feroz Shah Kotla
National: Within a week of coming out with 'Rule of the Day' policy, the BCCI has couped successfully against Congress and taken over the rule of the Indian Government. This is the first time a Cricket Rule has been established in any country of the world. Sharad Pawar has declared Crickocracy as the national policy that in effect restricts anyone from making any statements to the media or expressing any thoughts. Everyone will play only cricket in the country and dress only in white and white with pads on, all the time. Batsmen and bowlers will be the two recognized genders and the keepers will make sure none of the bowlers bowl bodyline to the batsmen and do not tease each other as did happen with Shoaib Akhtar. Dilip Vengsarkar has been made the chief of army who will shoot balls over the boundary to fight wars and has been overheard saying something like "only performance matters". Niranjan Shaw has been made the home seceretary and will collabarate with all states to ensure an unbiased pawar-powered regime. All aged citizens above 35 years of age will be asked to retire from whatever office they hold and will be given support on a honorary basis, no money. The fifteen member squad that played the first test match against Pakistan last week has been asked to rest for a long time to come. People can drink pepsi or coca-cola at will and no national players can influence their thoughts. Saurav's and Rahul's fans have setup naxalite camps to fight Crickocracy. Sachin has not made any statements as usual, but maintains a strict silence on all affairs. Last, and definitely not the least, Greg Chappel has been recalled and instituted as the External Affairs Minister and as his first move, Saurav Ganguly has been exiled from India inspite of his comeback performance. Sources close to us in the 'Crickocratic Government' has informed on conditions of anonymity that Ranji Trophy bowlers will henceforth bowl underarm only, under Greg Chappel's direct scrutiny.

All media forms have been asked to shut down and as a kind gesture, Sharad Pawar has allowed newspapers to write one last day, penning every word himself. It has been a good tenure and now we have realized what media-mania and political nuts can do to a country. Stay idiotic!

- Rotters

பெண்மை

2007-10-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

கருணையின் நகரம் பெண்மை,
மிக
பொறுமையின் சிகரம் பெண்மை!!

நன்மை பயக்கும் பெண்மை,
கரு
கண் மை வியக்கும் பெண்மை!!

உயர்வு தருதலும் பெண்மை,
ஆண்
நிறைவு பெறுதலும் பெண்மை!!

வர்ணிக்க முடிந்தது பெண்மை,
எனை
மன்னிக்க தெரிந்ததும் பெண்மை!!

கருப்பினும் அழுத்தம் பெண்மை,
காதல்
நெருப்பினில் வருத்தும் பெண்மை!!

உயிரினும் மகத்தான பெண்மை,
உயிர்
பிரியினும் எனக்கான பெண்மை!!

God, oh God !!

2007-10-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

If you are listening amidst your other important chores,
God, oh God!
Let me show you what you have done unto me!
Though the chances are slim I have your ears and eyes,
You should know how I have been mistreated with your lies.

Do you see the red flowing over my face,
God, oh God?
Spurted viscous straight from heart,
These eyes that followed you since they opened,
They blow blood now, you are guilty,
Are you going to cleanse or do them apart?

Let me tell you this is not fair,
Let me tell you I do dare,
Let me tell you I need a hand,
Let me tell you i cant even stand,
But do you listen,
God, oh God?
Or are you just the silent judge,
That hunts me down with a severe grudge?
And torment my soul craving for a hold,
For all I can see is distance and cold.

Thy light is supposed to guide me in the path,
But when it is all shadow, how do I know?

I am human,
A lesser soul compared to angels,
How long can I hold, how more need I suffer?
God, Oh God?
How more do I cry, How long before it is over?
Take me all at once, even without a nod,
But fill me with peace once, oh my lord!

If you exist, if you care,
If you live in water and air,
Listen to this child for it cries to you,
For love, for mercy and for solace,
God, oh God!
Tonight if I die in you, it is the end,
But tonight,
If you die in me, I am afraid it is a begining ..

Lazy Initialization Complacency Syndrome

2007-09-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

I and a friend of mine were debugging her code for a problem and I couldn't crack it at first. She later debugged it and asked me to crack it and when I did, I was kicking myself. Decided to blog it for others' benefit :)

The code snippet is something like below:

public void addToMap(Object key, Object value)
{
    if(member_map == null)
    {
        member_map = new HashMap<Object, Object> ();
    }
    else
    {
        member_map.put(key, value);
    }
}

It simply lazy-initializes a map that is a class member variable and adds the key-value pair to the map. We tested it with 2 records fetched from a database table and tried to print the contents. We expected two records, but only the last record was stored onto the map and this kept us guessing for a long time.

The problem here is in the if-else part. For the first record, the map is null and it gets lazy-initialized. And the 'put' call was in the else loop, so the first record never got stored!

Three lessons

1. Do not else-ify lazy-initialization: When you lazy-initialize, put the null check in if condition, but do not add an else to it. The code should have been:

public void addToMap(Object key, Object value)
{
    if(member_map == null)
    {
        member_map = new HashMap<Object, Object> ();
    }
    // No "else"
    member_map.put(key, value);
}

2. The importance of quantitative and qualitative test data: What we did was a typical case of testing with insufficient data. We shouldn't have tested only with two records, we should have tested with more numbers. That way, the problem would have been obvious.

3. Thinking out-of-box: We couldn't crack it coz d problem was in the perception with which we thought about it. It wasn't that only the last record was stored, rather it was that the first record was NOT stored.

And I thought I could wash away the sin of not cracking it only by spreading the lesson, hence the blog :)