Thiru's Reflections

Opinion poll

2007-09-24T17:11:00.000+05:30

I was watching preview of Ind-Pak title clash on Headlines Today this morning. Like most news channels, HT too had a gawky interface with stock prices and headlines scrolling across the screen. I was attracted by a rectangular box on the left of the screen that carried results of an opinion poll.

The question was: "Who will win today?"; Options: A) India and B) Pakistan. The results till then was 87%-13%, that would delight any Indian. Even then, the 13% of votes did surprise me. Who would have voted for Pak? Whoever it may be, I promise there would be no cricketing reasons.

But the question is still open. I put the question to myself. "Why would you vote for Pak in this poll?". I'd say, "I am better of being in the group of lesser strength, if randomly picked one from one of the groups will win a gift."

As I brainstormed, I found other things that made some real sense to me: There are lot of people around who believe "if they vote for India, then we will lose". Hmmmm, true!! And, What if the channel forges the results to attract more SMS votes from the viewers? You never know.

Ram Setu, Superb Friday, & Bharathi

2007-09-22T03:37:00.000+05:30

Who's Ram? Was he an engineer?
From which school did he graduate?
These are the questions making the headlines this week. Talk of the town, noooo, talk of the news channels seems to be Ram Setu and the Sethu Samudram project.

This project - so-called dream project of Tamils - aims to create a ship channel across the shallow waters of Palk Strait. Since it's start, politicians have been cashing in on the Ram setu - a mythological bridge - issue. So what? Nothing. After all, I dont care people crying for votes and cheap publicity!!

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Friday, Sep 21st.

It's not an usual weekday for me. I woke up early and went through the dinakaran right from page 1 to page 16. Then had my breakfast and a nice coffee, while surfing the news channels. Ah. For once, I am seeing something different on CNN-IBN - the heroics of Indian cricket team. Thank Ram, it's not Ram setu again! :-)

Then I went on to sleep again. After an hour, my dad waked me up. I watered the plants - something I love to do in the morning. That really humored me. Trust me, for the first time in 2 weeks, I was thinking about something other than the office. I read a chapter on User Security in Oracle; played a couple of games on my desktop; tried to solve a Samurai Sudoku - solving 5 connected Sudokus in one go is fun; and the morning passed interestingly.

It's noon then. Slowly, I started to ready for office. When I realized that I was slower than the Hare that lost to a tortoise, the clock had already gone past 1. :-(. I dressed up fast and duly signed out from home.

Then came a long wait in the bus stand. I dint get a rickshaw even. However, I was not cursing anyone; was playing Snakes on my 2300. Argh! The invevitable had arrived - received a call from Singapore. For a change, the guy on the other end was in good mood too. Why he shouldnt be? It's his friday evening! ;). By the time the conversation ended, I was in share-auto enroute to my office and about a minute away.

Wow.. A nice SONG was playing on radio inside the auto. That was written by the most prolific of 20th century poets. " Theme: Independent India. Title: சிந்து நதியின் மிசை நிலவினிலே The beauty: Bharathi composed it years before independence...". As these details passed through, I heard the lines "சிங்களத் தீவினுக்கோர் பாலம் அமைப்போம், சேதுவை மேடுறுத்தி வீதி சமைப்போம்". Hang on. What's he saying: "Let's bridge across Pak Strait; heighten Setu to causeway to Lanka"??
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The petty and the pregnant

2007-09-20T03:32:00.000+05:30

"Saththam Podadhey" is a romantic thriller by Vasanth. One line review of the movie - "second half could have been shown better". Though the movie had nothing to take home, I have my own thinkings:

1. The "title card" had cool graphics - "hey idhu Flash da", a friend observed - and apt background score - "a ah.. scene-a kelappudhu da", another friend exclaimed. Besides these, there's something rummy. Each name looked clumsy with an addtional vowel, "s" , and/or "r", at almost all the applicable places. I never seen "Dinesh" writen as "Dinessh" before, they did that. You could easily find a dozen of such oddities. The ultimate one was the TITLE of the movie. It read "SATHUM PODAATHAY". Many Tamils would comprehend this as "Mother who dint serve rice", while the intended meaning is "Dont make noise". That's funny!!

2. After the movie, a friend revealed a shocking piece of info. He said this movie is rated "U" - "rating given to a movie which has no objectionable material". I was amazed. I dint believe his words until I verified it on the net. This flick horrifically portrays domestic violence against a lady; awfully depicts acts of a psycho; openly discusses impotency; and has scenes rendering a man hanging. Despite having all these obnoxious contents, it has qualified for unrestricted showing. Enna kodumai idhu! Shame on CBFC!!

Tagged!!!

2007-09-13T20:02:00.000+05:30

It's about a month since I was tagged by mat.

Here is my array of facts:

1. I am not a software engineer, I dont engineer anything

2. I am not a boy nextdoor, girls dont fascinate me

3. I am not a violator, I dont admire laws of my land

4. I am not a poet, mine are not masterworks

5. I am not a reader, I cannot give a good review

6. I am not a conservativist, I welcome innovations

7. I am not a perfectionist, my quality fits only for the purpose

8. One way or the other, I pretend to be all the above

2007-06-18T15:13:00.000+05:30

Dumping my thoughts!!!

It'd been very very ordinary day til then. As the clock moved past One, it's time for much awaited lunch break.

I gently walked along blacktopped passage to the Cafeteria and merged onto the queue to the cashier.With a token for meals in hand, I joined the waiting line to pickup a plate.

I noticed something odd in a process that people here, including me, were doing over the years. Almost 99 out of 100 IT engineers here did that. I was not part of the remaing 1 percent till then.

What process do software engineers follow in the canteen?? It's nothing but wiping the plate they take with a tissue.

Why are they doing that while they are not supposed to insult workmanship by cleaning a clean plate, I started thinking through.

Maybe, the plates are not cleansed properly?? If that is the case, why are you doing that. Isn't the responsibility of the contractor to provide hygienic food?

With mindful of thoughts, I approached the stack of plates and got hold of the one at the top. Believe me, it looked absolutely clean. Pulling a few tissues out of the packet kept on the table, I noticed the next plate on the top. It looked even cleaner. I moved away to head for buffet. Yet I was very interested to see what the next guy in the queue was doing. I turned back, only to witness him cleaning the clean plate with a tissue paper. :-) :-) :-)

I never searched for an answer for the lone question "Who started this stupid activity??", as I was also among the goosy group of plate cleaners for about 2 years.

2007-03-17T04:18:00.000+05:30

செந்தில் கவுண்டமணியிடம் கேட்க மறந்த கேள்வி

12-3-2007, காலைவேளை.

என்னடா இது சன்டே மட்டும் இவ்ளோ குட்டியா இருக்குனு
கம்ப்ளைன் பண்ற கூட்டத்துல நானும் ஒருத்தன். மன்டேஸ்ல
தயங்கி தயங்கி வேலைகள ஆரம்பிக்கிறவன்.

இப்போ என்னோட சிந்தனையெல்லாம், "ஏன் நான் இப்படி
லீவுக்காக அலையுறேன்? 'செய்வதைத் திருந்தச் செய்!
அதையும் இக்கணமே செய்!'-ங்கிற கொள்கையெல்லாம் எங்கப்போச்சி??"-ங்கிறது தான்!

டாய் டாய் டாய் அடங்குடா. கொள்கை, குறிக்கோள்னு ரொம்ப
அலட்டிக்காதே-னு சொல்றது எனக்கு கேக்குது. இருந்தாலும்
நான் இதை சொல்லாம விடப்போறதில்லனு முடிவு
பண்ணிட்டேன்.

தினமும் நாம ஏன் எப்போ வொர்க்கிங் டைம் முடியும், ரெஸ்ட்
எடுக்கலாம்னு பாக்கறோம்? ஏன் ஒவ்வொரு வாரமும் எப்போ
ஃப்ரைடே வரும், ரெண்டு நாள் லீவ் கெடைக்கும்னு
பாக்கறோம்? ஏன் எப்படா இந்த ப்ரொஜக்ட் முடியும், தூக்கிப்
போட்டுட்டு எங்கேயாவது வெகேஷன் போலாம்னு பாக்கறோம்??

எனக்கு தெரியும் இந்த எல்லா கேள்விக்குமே எல்லார்கிட்டேயும்
ஒரு நியாயமான பதில் இருக்கும்.

ஆனா நாம யாரும் ஏன் எப்போடா நம்ம லைஃப்டைம் முடியும் நிம்மதியா தூங்கலாம்னு யோசிக்கிறதில்ல??

2006-11-07T15:39:00.000+05:30

Taj Mahal

செத்தாலும் செலவு வைப்பாள்
காதலி - தாஜ்மஹால் தரும் பாடம்!!

2006-09-29T11:56:00.000+05:30

The Owl

செவ்வாய்கிழமை, இரவு 9.40 மணி..
உணவகத்திலிருந்து பிரதான அலுவலகக் கட்டிடத்திற்கு திரும்பும் வழி...

விளக்குக்கம்பத்தில் அமைதியாய் அமர்ந்திருந்தது ஓர் ஆந்தை..
ஆச்சரியத்தில் நான்.. முதன்முறையாக நேரில் காண்கிறேன் அதை!!

என்னடா இது!! காட்டுக்குள்ளே தானே இருக்கும் இது..
இந்த இடம் என்றிலிருந்து காடானது??

இங்குள்ள பலரது வாழ்க்கை வறண்டவிட்டதாலா?? - அப்படி
இருப்பின் பாலைவனமாக தானே மாறியிருக்க வேண்டும்... - இப்படி

மொக்கையான சிந்தனைகள்....
"யே ஆந்தையே! இங்கே ஏற்கனவே உழைத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கின்றன பல ஆந்தைகள்..
நீ அவர்களுக்கு சகிதனாகப் போகிறாயா??" - என்று வினவ ஆசை எனக்கு!!

வியப்புடன் அதன் இன்முகம் நோக்கி முறுத்தவாறே சென்றேன், கடந்து...
அவ்வாந்தையின் நினைவு அகல மறுத்த்தது, மனதிலிருந்து...

என் உளக்கேள்விகளைப் படித்திருக்குமா, அது?? - அற்பச் சிந்தனை எனக்குள்..
இருப்பின், என்ன நினைத்திருக்கும் தனக்குள்??

"நாள் முழுதும் எந்திரத்துடன் பேசிக் கொண்டிருப்பதாலா,
இவனுக்கு இயற்கை புதுமையாய் தெரிகிறது" - என்றா
அல்லது,
"கணினிமொழி பேசிப்பேசி வாய்மொழி மறந்தானோ இவன்,
தனக்குள்ளேயே கதைத்து நெகிழ்கிறான்" - என்றா??

புதிதாய் தான் இருந்தது அந்த செல்லநடை!
இனிதாய் தான் இன்னும் இருக்கிறது அந்த இரண்டு நிமிட நினைவுகள்!!

2006-09-25T22:08:00.000+05:30

Coincidence!!

Yesterday, I had my hair cut in a barber shop nearby my house..
That shop has seen me since my childhood..
The barber, close friend of my dad, is one of those rarest of shopkeepers, I've seen, who are very kind towards others and respect everyone..
I used to call him "Annachi"- word considered respectful in our social class..
Visit to his shop has become a part of my life, as I go there at least once in a month all these years..

Yesterday, when I entered his shop, he was hairdressing an 8-year old boy with his younger brother next in the queue..
As usual, I politely told him, "Annachi, I have an important work. So finish me first."..
"Okay Thorai(meaning landlord - his way of addressing others)!", he acknowledged!!

After he finished styling the boy, I sat on the barber chair and he started haircutting..
Then came the mother of the boy..
She, seeing her kid, said, in an annoyed tone of voice, "Thatha, Neenga eppavume chinna pasangala ukkara vachittu periavangalukku seekirama mudivettureenga. En paiyan evlo nerama wait pannittu irukkan. Idhu niyaayame illa (You are always keep the children waiting and dress the elders first. My kid is waiting for a longtime. This is not fair)!"
He replied, "Your child kept on crying. Else I would have finished him first. Ask him ma!"
The gal(mother) warned her child to obey and turned to the barber, "After that sir(me), do him. We are going out today. It's getting very late." and left.

I, the silent observer of the conversation, noticed two things..
One, "I have grown up".. She referred to me as "Sir".. "Thank god!! Strangely, I am wearing pants, instead of usual shorts, today"..

Two, "the world has also changed".. To my surprise, She called the barber "Thatha"- meaning grandpa. "He does not look like the one I saw some 15 years back - the fact that I haven't noticed all these days. He is well into his 50s.. He has all signs of old age - bald head, white hair, skin wrinkles........"

My heart duly accepted the revelations of the evening..
In the meantime, he continued cutting and voiced his opinions on the upcoming local body elections..
Simultaneously sms-ing one of my friends, I gently nodded every time he expected a word from me..
And eventually he finished cutting and shaving..

As usual, I took 25 rupees out of my purse and gave it to him..
He collected it and, with a smile, said, "Thorai, You have grown up. The world has also changed. But you are still in the same 25 rupees!"..
Dumbfounded by those unexpected words, I silently handed him a 10 rupees note and gracefully signed him off..

It may just be a coincidence but I figured it'd be worth letting everyone know!!

2006-09-23T18:33:00.000+05:30

Do They Matter??

I saw a guy, dressed neat with nice pink hat, walking into the woods..
He was doing something strange..
His unusual actions made me curious.. I closely watched him..
He had at least two coins and was comparing the results of flipping 'em..
Concentrating on his doings, I reached him and said "hi"..
In reply, he took his cap off and gave me a cold look..
Inadvertently, my lips uttered some words..
While I was trying to recollect what i just said, in a flash, "Idiot! Why do you think you are incapable of taking decisions? And make me restless??", the guy reciprocated..
For a moment, i had my world blacked out..
"You resemble me".. Three words that I sounded..
"Who is he?? Why he is acting strange amidst the yellowwoods?? And yelling at me?? He is looking like Me"..
While my mind was looking for answers to those flashing Qs, it's 8.30am, 23rd of September '06 and I was awake..

I have no idea what that dream means.. I dont care about it as well.. But, at these hours of the day, it gave me a good reason to postpone my works to tomo and to blog.. :)

It has happened n number of times..
Endless dreams.. Half-baked fantasies.. Meaningless illusions.. I feel they all have onething in common.. They are not worth chasing, are they?

2006-08-08T19:28:00.000+05:30

இதயம்!!!

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உயிர்வாழ மட்டுமல்ல
உன்னை ஒளித்து வைக்கவுந்தான்
இதயம்!!!

2006-08-07T19:37:00.000+05:30

Me with little stars

Goodlife Centre, Chennai

To have one's heart filled with happiness would be like a dream come true, wouldn’t it?
For once in my life, I was fortunate enough to experience it.
Yes! What you see above, is a snap of one glorious moment, taken on that red-letter day!!

2006-06-19T15:03:00.000+05:30

Ramanujam's Proof???

Today I got a mail saying "3=2! Ramanujam's Proof!.... Can U Find Any Flaws?".

The first and foremost flaw I found is that the proof was given Sri Ramanujam, the brilliant twentieth Century Indian mathematician. I couldnt find any supportive evidence for the claim itself.

Here is that mail:

Can U Prove 3=2??
This seems to be an anomaly or whatever u call in mathematics.It seems, Ramanujam found it but never disclosed it during his life time and that it has been found from his dairy.

See this illustration:
-6 = -6
9-15 = 4-10

adding 25/4 to both sides:
9-15+(25/4) = 4-10+(25/4 )

Changing the order
9+(25/4)-15 = 4+(25/4)-10
(this is just like : a square + b square - two a b = (a-b)square.) Here a = 3, b=5/2 for L.H.S and a =2, b=5/2 for R.H.S.

So it can be expressed as follows:
(3-5/2)(3-5/2) = (2-5/2)(2-5/2)

Taking positive square root on both sides:
3 - 5/2 = 2 - 5/2
3 = 2 ????????

The Flaw:
If you have x=y, then x^2 is equal to y^2.
However, if you have x^2 = y^2 ,it doesn't mean that x=y.
Eg: x^2 = y^2 = 9, x= 3 & y=-3

The rule is,
x^2 = y^2 has two solutions: x=y and x=-y. Considering only one solution will not be suffice and will not give the complete and correct solution.

Thus, the blunder is "Taking positive square root on both sides"

Now even you feel that, person of such a high rank would never have given a absurd proof like this one!!