Long time no see

Exams.Rain.Floods(Chennai).Holidays.Terrorists.Guns.Breaking news.Pakistan.War?.Still floods.Holidays resume.Books.Football.Cricket.Billiards.Shuttle.Driving classes.Rain.

A look back from the future

With so many 'things'(read as productive activities)to do, why am i spending these days like a dumb goose? A question that can probably be answered only by me.But,when i think about it,any 2nd year engineering student could be asking the same question. But the beauty in this rant lies in the fact that i like doing what i am doing today and not doing the real 'things'.Can't life be rid of pointless,aimless days such as these? But such pointless, aimless days do make up life does'nt it?
Some years hence when i look back at 2008,i may throw up a smile up on my face. It is not a very memorable period of my life when i did 'things' but some weird options are in store for memory.
4.I would remember the countless nights i stayed up doing nothing!
(staring at a book or reading Naruto or watching Prison break practically amount to nothing.)
3.This would be period i would remember as the time i started following at least 4 football leagues across Europe.
2.Surely,the day i went for 40 hours without sleep would not be forgotten.(Again doing nothing much! I don't remember how many hours i slept after that and i am not an insomniac).
1.This is the golden period when i had nothing to do, that i was so determined to change my hair style.A move that ended me in an almost bald state a la Michael Scofield.

Practically,the last thing i would remember was that i did my 2nd year Engineering.And then my smiley mood would have changed!

Robot/Enthiran;)

Evolutions aplenty have rendered a lazy-yet-intelligent human,
who gave his work to what he called a Robot which had greater acumen.
This gave birth to a science called Robotics,
that studies the artificial agent which looked exotic.

The links and actuators formed a kinematic chain,
that helped a Robot's structure in being mundane.
The brain was replaced by sensors that helped perception
and they only lacked a heart with emotion.

Kinematics and dynamics determined their motion,
and they were also taught the art of interaction.
The first modern Robot was named Unimate,
it did not have the human tendency to procrastinate.

Soon Robots became better labourers through their action,
as they proved to be more than a drop in the ocean.
We might find ourselves toying with these mutants,
and with malicious programming we may be employed their servants.

Are you game?

You see people lose hope and wander in search of a life,
and you see them neglecting the small corners that have them.
They move on,without a smile,without tears,
and you look down at them, deep inside you laugh at them.

They are those who haven't watched football,
which at first sight is just another sport.
A sport that can bring about war and peace,
a sport that can cross barriers and invade hearts.

Football gives you 90 minutes of life,
a life with joy and agony and glory and pain.
90 minutes when you do nothing else,
but relish and experience the beautiful life.

It speaks the only language this world understands,
it only has the tongue that can pierce hearts effortlessly.
You punch the air or shriek with pain,
Whatever! Life is Football!

The forgotten landmark

I remember the first time i had been to Moore market here in Chennai.It was back in 2000.Moore market is popular for the books sold here,mostly they are used books.The piracy of books sold in platforms across the city stems here.I am now a regular here mainly for taking home college books.But i also do not miss out to shop on the platforms outside the main building.They house the best of fiction and non-fiction.One of such shop owners now welcomes me...his eyes glitter as he meets an old friend.I was actually there this week to buy my 3rd semester books but couldn't resist the invitation set up by my 'old friend'.I didn't want anything in particular.I ended buying only 1 book('The monk who sold his Ferrari').I am always astonished by the knowledge of books these shop-owners own.I am unsure whether some of them actually do read the books.I ask for 'Jonathan Livingston seagull' and i get the reply 'Oh...i had only one copy of it which was sold last month.There's not much people opting for that...so i decided to take it off the stands.I'll have one for you when you come here the next time!'He laughs..
But the Moore market itself today represents a sorry state.It looks forgotten despite some crowd coming in and going out.It stands lonely giving a sick look.It once looked like an empire...before my birth.All i knew was that a fire demolished the place and it has been sick ever since.I didn't know the cause of the fire and i googled.Surprisingly,nobody knows yet.
The place in fact looks pathetic now.4 or 5 shops along the platform outside the building and a dozen book shops inside it,a few shops selling fishes(I don't want to call those Aquariums!)in the upper part of the building,a juice shop and 2 or 3 wine shops on the road leading to the market are all that is left.This definitely is a forgotten landmark.

Magnifying the magnum-opus!

Kamal Haasan's 'Dasavatharam' hit the screens on June 13th. Lucky me got a first day ticket to the much awaited magnum opus!I went in with total excitement and came out utterly disappointed.I went with 5 other guys and everyone of us shared the same view.I even went to the extent of telling other friends to not watch the movie.But then little did i know that i would restless to watch it again!
I went in first day with no idea about the movie.So,all we noticed was the commercial aspect of the movie.I saw no story in it and hence jumped to a conclusion.Basically,we didn't have time to think about the supposed 'flaws'.For instance,initially i found the 12th century scenes had no relevance to the plot.The whole thing made no sense.But,the movie is little too perfect.
This write-up is only for those who have already watched the movie.To the rest,this could be Greek and Latin.

Firstly,the entire movie revolves around a certain 'chaos theory' and 'butterfly effect'.The Govind Kamal mentions this in the beginning of the movie.Few would have noticed it first time amidst the shouts from fans.The chaos theory is simple.It is how the 10 characters who are strangers among themselves get related,rather help themselves out.Now,for all those who thought that the 12th century incident was unwanted....
The chola king drowns the statue.As it hits the sea-bed,it causes an explosion creating a rift between tectonic plates.This gradually expands and results in the Tsunami.Although the epicentre is not anywhere near Chidambaram which suggests that the plates float over a period of time.Now let me try to explain the Chaos theory in the movie.

In essence,Dasavatharam talks about 10 characters who are inconsequential as such,but are integrated in a larger picture.Without Bush,the plane would have been called back.Without Shinghen, Govind would be dead.Without the tsunami(thanks to the statue...in turn thanks to Nambi),the world would have been destroyed.Even Krishnaveni Patti plays a very important role.If she had not put the vial in the idol,maybe Govind would have recovered it then and there and a powerful weapon would have been unleashed.The very fact that it went into the idol meant that it was being accelerated to its destiny.Without Kaifulla Khan, Govind would have never escaped;the list simply goes on.Balaram Naidu lets Fletcher escape.Vincent saves Govind from the sand-mafia.Hence,no character is unwanted,though it seems so at first sight.These strangers control their own destiny.

The butterfly effect is the most important component of a chaotic system.Basically,small perturbations results in amplifications which completely destroys the original nature of the system and makes prediction impossible.If a butterfly flaps its wings in Africa,it COULD result in a cyclone in USA.A highly dumbed down explanation of the butterfly effect is in the film Anniyan,where Vikram's sister dies because a liquor shop owner sells liquor on a dry day.

Also,the Govind character could well be intended to be a reincarnation of Nambi.Nambi strongly believes in his God and refuses to give up on him.Govind is his exact opposite.Also the same could be said of Asin.The 12th century Asin gives up God to save her husband but the 21st century Asin never once gives up on her 'perumal'.During the encounter with sand mafia in the sand quarry, it is repeat of the incident from 12th century. Instead of Kulothunga Chozhan, it is the Sand Mafia who tries to inflict damage on the land.Note that the 'land' here is the same.Asin stumbles on a rock while burying the statue...which the same rock where the 12th century Asin throws her 'thaali'.All these highlight the circle of life.
This movie is a brilliant juxtaposition of independent characters whose paths cross, if only briefly, which is stunning example of Chaos Theory.
All these theories fall under Quantum Mechanics!!Thats not the end.
Let me reach out to a FAR FAR FAR-FETCHED THEORY.Kamal Hasaan usually has this knack of playing with symbols.Hey-Ram was one example.
The only symbol that looked weird probably was the '+' band-aid across Kamal's forehead.What could that mean?
Obviously your mind goes to Christianity.The Christ symbol is a vertical line ABOVE which comes the horizontal line.This could even be noted in the way the christians pray.However,the band-aid has the vertical line coming over the horizontal.It looks like this one is an indication of anti-christ.In simple words,if Christ looks out to save the world..anti-christs look for destruction.Our hero has found a potential world-destroying weapon!That puts him under the anti-christ category,doesn't it?
This is still not the end of it.The title is not only to indicate Kamal donning ten roles...but the characters themselves are related to Lord Vishnu's Das Avathars.It is the irony of all irony's.

The movie is too clever that it has made a lazy bum like me to come up with such a big post.It is a must-watch,no doubt!

PS : My thanks to DEEPAK VISHNU and VcX for the movie ticket and also arguing with me about the theories,which in turn helped in throwing light on more complications.

May movie magic

No..I'm not supposed to post in May..I'm not supposed to touch my computer in May.I'm not supposed to waste my time in May.
It's the month of my semester exams!
OK..i can hear you shouting the F word at me.

Apart from these excusable crimes...i committed certain inexcusables as well.
Here's a list of the movies i watched this month...
Juno
Michael Clayton
Sweeney Todd
National treasure 2
Kingdom
The Illusionist
Stranger than fiction
Meet the Spartans (sheesh...i know!!)
Meet the fockers
Meet the parents
No country for old men
The Bourne ultimatum
Yaradee nee mohini, Santhosh Subramaniam (Both Tamil)
Race

This list however doesn't include the movies i watched on TV.All of them i had watched before but most of them were worth watching another time.
The Prestige
Identity
Troy
National Treasure
Rush hour 2
Goal
I am sure this is not the end of it.I am just not able to remember;)
I also watched Naruto..a Japanese anime almost everyday and also read 90 chapters of its manga(Japanese comic)version.I went to play almost every alternate day and stayed online almost throughout my study holidays.I also went for 1 IPL match and watched most of the others on TV.

And..the exams were pretty good...average as in!
No really~

Changing Notes..

I was stranded at some place in Aminjikarai(Chennai).Along with my friends,we got down from the bus and took a look at the road ahead.I could see a 100 heads with helmets on them and no sign of any vehicle movement.Traffic had been paused for some moments...but that didn't stop people.Most of them travelling in buses got down and began walking towards one common destination.We joined them.It was like some protest rally.We were all on our way to a school on a Sunday evening.Wonder why?
The Mozart of Madras,The maestro who revolutionised Indian music was all set to perform on the grounds of St.George's school,Chennai.I entered the jam packed ground and barely had space to keep both my feet on ground.It was a humid evening and soon my shirt was wet with sweat.Only the maestro's voice could be heard for a promo video of The Times of India was shown.He said
"Every time Chennai changes,I make a note.My city,like my music is always the same....Changing.""For Chennai is change.Change is music.And music is me."

Had anyone fallen on ground during those minutes,death would have taken atmost 2 minutes to swallow them.A stampede was on the cards.When A.R.Rahman made his appearance on the stage,its probability increased.It took a few minutes for the crowd to settle down.Rahman along with with vast crew which included Sivamani, Blaaze, Hariharan,Chinmayee, Shankar Mahadevan, Karthik, Sadhana Sargam, Madhushree, Javed Ali, Mohammad Aslam, Naresh Iyer, Rajesh Raman, weaved mesmerising magic.The 3 and a half hour long show,which had a mix of hindi and tamil tunes and also 1 english,left us spellbound.The Sunday event was organized to mark the launch of the Times of India’s Chennai edition.I did manage to take a lot of videos...but the 'Khwaja' video has turned out to be best of mine,thanks to less audience noise as it was a slow number.
Here's the list of the songs performed :
1.ARR entered the scene singing Jaage Hain from Guru which was followed by a thunderous applause.
2.Ella Pugazhum,Azagiya Tamil magan.(ARR)

3.Endendrum Punnagai,Alaipaayuthe.(Karthik,also joined by Shankar Mahadevan and Naresh Iyer.)

4.Vaaji Vaaji,Sivaji.(Hariharan,Madhusree)
5.Varada Nadikarai Oram,Sangamam.(Shankar Mahadevan)
6.New York Nagaram,Sillunu Oru Kadhal.(The God himself)
7.Girlfriend,Boys.(Karthik)
8.Dil Se,Dil Se.(ARR)
9.Jashne Bahara,Jodha Akbar.(Javed Ali)
10.Munbe Va,Sillunu Oru Kadhal.(Naresh Iyer,Chinmayee)
11.Enna Solla Pogirai,Kandukonden Kandukonden.(Shankar Mahadevan)
12.Chayya Chayya,Dil Se.(Shankar Mahadevan,Rehaana)
13.Kannodu Kanbadellam,Jeans.(Nityashree)
14.Azeem O Shaan(Jodha..)-Roja-Veerapandi Kottaiyile,Thiruda Thiruda.(Naresh Iyer, Aslam,Sivamani)
15.Adhiradi,Sivaji (ARR)
16.Oru Koodai Sunlight,Sivaji(Blaaze)
This was followed by Blaaze's introduction of ARR's lesser known crew members.
17.Pray for me brother.(ARR,Blaaze)
18.Bombay theme,Bombay.
19.Khwaja mere khwaja,Jodhaa Akbar.(ARR)
I was waiting for this for so long.This,for me,was the best.
20.Ae Hairathe,Guru.(ARR,Hariharan)
21.Maduraikku Pogada,ATM.(No idea who did this:( )
22.Tere Bina,Guru. (ARR, Chinmayee)
23.Hamma Hamma,Bombay.(ARR, Shankar Mahadevan,Blaaze)
24.Vande Mataram. (ARR and his entire co.)

Fuel for thought

I am sorry for my 3rd consecutive post on sports...but this one has a bit of math in it. I am a very keen fan of Formula One and i was watching this Bahrain Grand Prix this past weekend and i was just wondering the amount of fuel that is being spent by the sport and for the sport.
When Raikkonen made his pit stop..the Ferrari team added 76 litres of fuel which was supposed to be sufficient for 20 laps.
Now,putting thoughts to paper.
For the Bahrain Gp,1 lap = 5.4 kms and a total of 57 laps makes the race distance 308kms approximately.For 5.4 kms(1 lap) a Ferrari needs 3.8 litres approx.
Therefore,for 308 kms it needs 217 lts(approx)of fuel.
Let us make a generous assumption that every car is as good as Ferrari.A total of 22 cars run the race and 20 cars finished the race.To uncomplicate things a bit...let us assume that 20 cars run the entire length of every race.
(We are forgetting the small distance the other 2 cars would have made and also considering all the 20 others finish the race.)
Hence 217*20 = 4340 lts.
A Formula One race takes place over an entire weekend, with two free practice sessions on Friday, a practice session and a qualifying session on Saturday, and the race on Sunday.
Assuming 1 practice session for a team (2 cars) is 10 laps i.e 54 kms or 38lts. So 418 lts for 11 cars(minimum case) for 1 practise session and its 418*2 = 836lts.(for 2 sessions) on Friday and another 418lts. on Saturday.
The Qualifying session is a bit complicated since it is split into 4 phases.
During the first session, all 22 cars run laps at any time(that makes 22 laps). The six slowest cars are assigned grid places 17 through 22. Lap times are reset for the second session, which sees the remaining 16 cars on track together. Again, the six slowest of those cars are assigned grid places 11 through 16.(another 16 laps) The final qualifying session is a shootout among the final ten competitors to determine the final 10 grid places. To add an additional strategic challenge to the race engineers, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 15-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits, and whatever fuel they use in the 15 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session. The number of laps run during any session is uncontrolled. In 2008 season the format is changed to a 20-15-10 minute run for the three sessions, and fuel is not replenished after the third session.Lets assume that the 10 cars make at least 2 laps each..so that's another 20 laps and that means 22+16+20..58 laps i.e. 220lts approx for the Qualifying session.

Total fuel for the weekend = 4340 + 836 + 418 + 220 = 5814 lts.
We are also gonna assume that the average race distance for all the tracks is that of the Bahrain circuit.
Its 18 races in this 2008 calendar and so its 5814*18 =1,04,652 lts. .
The world spends 104652 lts of Petrol a year in Formula One.

Hmmm...no wonder oil prices are rising and Iraq is being pwned!
and...i am a genius:)
I did all this because...i was bored!

Uncool...i know!

Cricket is one game which can have a billion commentators,a billion advices in a zillionth second and a billion voices telling Tendulkar how to play.In a country like India,it is now 'cool' NOT to be a cricket lover/follower.But,unfortunately i belong to the 'uncool' category and as fate would have it i went for Day 2 and Day 3 of the recently concluded test match between India and South Africa.Yeah!I missed col on both days:) Some of the 'uncool' people might be jealous with me as i watched Sehwag's mammoth 319.But,trust me...i would have rather gone to col!It was hard to realise that the Delhi daredevil had reached 300 so fast that Dravid had reached his 50.It was so boring and the crowd longed to see the God in Tendulkar.It was the most boring test match ever played i guess.I cannot help but being in the uncool category prompts me to comment that the pitches in the future ought to be more lively and meaningful.



But,why me?:(

Barnsley's bull run

Thanks to Football's oldest competition,the FA cup,a town called Barnsley is under the spotlight.Having reached the semifinal stage this season in which a record 731 teams were included,they have no reason for disappointment from now.Barnsley town which boasts of no star player have already eliminated defending champions Chelsea and European giant Liverpool.History told me that they have already won the tournament in 1912 but that is a different story.The secret behind their success is simple.
No expectation,no pressure,loads of inspiration,disciplined defending,sharp attack(though rarely),excellent team coordination.

They only enjoyed about 30% possession in both their big games but they defended brilliantly and put their noses in front when it mattered.Kayode Odejayi,who is still waiting to be called up for the Nigerian national side was Barnsley's trump card against Chelsea.He scored for the first time for Barnsley in 28 games and that was enough to wrap things up.The players themselves,the manager,the crowd,the world gasped for a moment and it took a while to digest the fact that Barnsley were ahead against defending champions Chelsea.Previously they came up with another stunning performance against Liverpool.Suddenly,the FA cup has grown almost impossible to predict.Out of those 731 teams,take a look at the last 4:
Barnsley
Cardiff
Portsmouth
West Brom
Considering the run for the semis..Barnsley now appear favourites:)
It certainly appears as if the big teams have neglected the tournament and concentrated more on the premiership and the champions league.Teams like Manchester United and Arsenal are well known for undermining the tournament considering it an opportunity for younger players.But,only last year did we witness a Chelsea vs ManU in the final.I have no clue as to why things have turned around this way.Is it sheer luck driving teams like Barnsley or is there more to it than that meets the eye?


btw..i am going to the India vs South Africa test match tomorrow.It is the Day 2 of the match and i hope it is interesting.

Reality Zameen Par

I know its too late to post on 'Taare Zameen Par' but since i have nothing else to post on..i decided to go on with it:) As i finished watching the movie for the second time i had tears on my eyes for the second time.Call me sensitive...but this is the first movie i literally cried watching.There's so much talk about dyslexia all over the nation but the thing i liked about the movie is that it dealt not only with dyslexia but a million modern troubles.
For instance,when Ishaan is sent out of the class...you could hear traffic noises outside the class.This is a situation faced by all urban schools.They do not provide the perfect atmosphere for learning.
The old art teacher asks the children to draw spheres and cylinders and i remember me doing similar stuff.That's not what a kid must be taught to draw.What Aamir does in the class is hardly done in schools.
Also,the daily life of the Avasti family may have given a smile on your face...but isn't that the reality?
The kid 'bunks' school just to pointlessly roam on the streets.Every kid now considers school to be a prison.If such is the mindset..will there be learning?

It is up to we,the people to take note of such smaller revelations shown in the movie.Taare Zameen par is surely an eye-opener on the present day education system.The system has taken shape in such a way that students no longer need teachers...all they want is a text book.

Just when i thought Indian cinema is at last trying to be sensible..i got to watch 'Jodha Akbar'.Holy shit it was!

One day in my life

Well..the title says it all!I am going to take you through a f***in day of my f***ed up engineering life.Everyday starts at 12 midnight right?

12 am : I am f***in lying on the sofa with a book in hand.I have been staring at the same page for nearly an hour!F***!I actually had that book in hand because i had my internals on this paper 'Manufacturing technology' that day.I am so f***ed by that subject that i dont find inspiration.
12:30 am : I am f***ed up for sure though the last half hour had gone well...i had atleast turned a page or two.
1 am : Steady progress.No sign of sleep.
Don't get under the impression that i study at these hours on all days.
1:30 am: My mom wakes up to see my studying.Surprised,she is.Btw...she didn't know that i started only at 12!
2 am : I decide to hit the bed.I decide i'm going to fail!
5:50 am : The irritating alarm tone on my mobile rings.I cant afford to hit snooze!
6:40 am : I am up and ready for the day ahead.I have to board my col bus at 6:45 at a place which is a 2 min walk from my place.I wear my shoes.
6:42 am : My coffee is waiting.Breakfast only at col.I reach for it.F***...its too damn hot and i am late.I shout at my mom...she shouts at me for being late.I skip coffee:(
6:45 am : I am at the bus stop.No sign of the bus.
6:50 am : F***.The donkey truck is at sights at last.I plan to study during the 1 hour journey.I gotta.But,my eyes are red.They need a rest.
7:30 am : I realise that i had fallen asleep.F***...anyways its decided that i fail.
8:15 am :I enter the exam hall.The question paper looks like its pretty easy.In the sense,all the questions had terms which i had heard of.
8:23 am : Still staring at the question paper.I try to remember the answers.Luckily,i had brushed upon all the questions.I remember certain things.
8:25 am : I beleive i might pass!
9:45 am : The test is over.I still beleive i might pass.
10 am : I reach my class.My math teacher is waiting for us.I sleep during the class,no doubt.
11:30 am : Have a f***in lunch at col.The chappatis are hard to break.They are more like paapads.
12-3 pm : Most boring hours of my life.Uneventful.Classes,of course.
3:15 pm : The bus starts.I have had enough sleep for the day.I sit with John Grisham's 'The last juror' for the rest of the journey.
4:20 pm : Reach home.Have my coffee.(No...not the same one).
4:25-5 pm : Newspapers,TV,shit.
5 pm : I sit in front of my computer.Now,there's no turning back.I sit on it all evening.Games,internet,music,animes,comics occupy the rest of the evening:)

Global Warning

My college magazine work is going on in full swing and articles were invited.It was to be either a poem/short story/art/science crap.I,again walked upon familiar territory.Write a poem on 'global warming':)

Global Warming Global Warning
Infant September-visitor El Nino
And his twin sister June’s La Nina;
Cradled by global Carbon emissions
Cause Miami, Bangladesh map omissions.

Florida-sized icy Arctic canals
Ploughed by planet’s Carbon fuels;
Flora and fauna facing extinction funerals
Swallowed by increasing sea levels.

Are we to see these all
Or we to listen to Kyoto’s call-
Restrained use of Earth’s fossil fuels,
Super-powers throw in their towels.

It’s time to switch off the bulb
And switch on to Wind-Solar club!


El Nino and La Nina are global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon, occurring in the months of September and June respectively. Influenced by global warming, they cause temperature fluctuations in surface waters. Places like Miami, Bangladesh, Maldives will be the most affected due to increase in sea levels. The impacts of global warming are these and much more. If the global community fails to compel observance of carbon dioxide emission limits approved in Kyoto Protocol by 175 countries, particularly developed nations (they should quit polluting the atmosphere as a beaten boxer would leave the ring by throwing in his towel), we will witness disastrous results.

The forgotten Metro

Chennai,formerly Madras..the capital of Tamilnadu..one of the four metropolitan cities in India..my hometown,is forgotten when it comes to music concerts.Iron maiden went to Banglore...Shakira went to Mumbai..and Chennai hosts Carnatic music.FUCK!(I am in no way against Classical music...but its just that its not my cup of tea.)No fuckin band pays a visit to the capital of Southern India.(I guess i can call it so).I don't see any reason that there won't be a sellout crowd if such a high profile concert is held.I am fuckin sure the band guys wont get their heads ripped off.Come on...please pay a goddamn visit.Somebody!Anybody!People have the impression of Chennai as a conservative city.I dont deny it.But,the thing is that the city has grown in a terrific manner(compared to other Indian metros)that Chennai has been able to balance the modern lifestyle and the conservative style so well.It has managed to retain its conservative image and thats no tag to suggest that its people have stuck on with old styles.It is undoubtedly,the most forgotten and the least popular Indian Metro.That's because its leading a silent life and yet making huge strides globally.There is no reason i can see why Chennai is being ignored in the music sector.
There are enough people here to appreciate good music at any cost!Please look down upon this city.

Flop show

On Republic day,I had been to the 8th edition of the 'Odyssey Quiz' here in Chennai.This was the third time i have been to it and it turned out to be the worst ever Open Quiz i have ever been to.Almost all of the 35 questions in the prelims were related to things of the past and not even one was from sports or current events and there was no Harry Potter!Apart from the fact that the questions were damn tough (when compared to those in the previous editions) they weren't interesting either.It looked like a quiz meant only for the pro's.4 out of the 8 teams that made it to the finals were the same that went to stage the last time around.Popular quizmaster V.V.Ramanan's team 'QED'(defending champs) finished second.A team from Chennai won.(A team apiece from Mumbai,Hyberabad made it to the final).

The registration to the quiz was earlier done only by submitting the filled up forms in any of the Odyssey outlets.But this year it had to be done only through the net.The turnout of the people was terribly low as a result of the move.Only around 600 teams would have been there.As there wasn't much ad's or ado's...only the regulars would have come to the event.The finals was also not much exciting.Perhaps,the only interesting fact that i drove home was that :
When a female frog is injected with the urine of a pregnant woman,it lays eggs!!
I don't even remember the question for this answer.Overall,the quiz was a flop.Even student organised open quizzes i have been to earlier have been better.I left home dissappointed and so did my friends.We learnt not to carry too much expectations for anything.Expectations only make a defeat/dissappointment bitter but doesn't make a victory more sweeter.
Delete the word 'Expectation'!

War or Genocide?

One of the most interesting things happening now (apart from 'India down under',Indian stock markets,etc.)is the Senate elections in the US.The fight between the 2 democrats(Hillary clinton and Barack obama) has kept me interested in it.The fact that American election policy is much more organised and disciplined than in India is clearly notable.Even the way they carry out their campaigning is remarkable.Their speeches instills the pride of being American..where as down here the focus is on the tax exemptions and promises that look good for you and me but turn out to be another one of those money minting ideas.Ok..let me cut out my opinions...lets get down to facts.

The most pressing issue in the US,ahead of the elections,is undoubtedly the Iraq war.The democrats have promised immediate withdrawal of the troops.Infact,Ms.Clinton has promised that she would take this step on her first day at office and has laid out a 3 step plan for restoring peace in Iraq.Assuming that the war ends once the new government is elected(it is no good to expect it to happen before that)...still lets take a look at the impact it has had right from the day it started way back in 2003.The rationale for the invasion offered by President George Bush were many:
1.Allegation that Iraq possessed and was actively developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in violation of a 1991 agreement.
2.Concerns about Iraq's financial support for the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.
3.Iraqi government human rights abuses.
4.Concerns on Iraq's oil reserves.

Mr.Bush has hence been afraid of Iraq and waged the war.Bullshit!Moreover,there has absolutely zero evidence that Iraq had violated the agreement.Nothing was found that suggested Iraq possessed WMD.So,obviously the war becomes meaningless to our eyes.But...look at the fourth point i have stated more carefully...ah..now you know it!
But,the war has been so lopsided...that there have only been those rare days when US soldiers were killed(when compared to Iraqi deaths) in 'protests' rather than calling it by any other term.Hence,this doesn't deserve to be called a 'War'.It is just a mass killing move...Genocide! Violence against coalition forces and among various sectarian groups led to asymmetric warfare with the Iraqi insurgency, civil war between many Sunni and Shia Iraqis.This is only where the term 'War' comes into play.Hence,US is not PART of the war!!:P.A clever ploy indeed.All it wanted was to see as much as Iraqis to die as possible.Estimates of the number of people killed is more than 1.2 million.The money spent has been more than $474 billion to the US.
Imagine,$474 billion from the taxpayers purse.

All i can offer you is an abrupt end...and lots to think about.

Classroom rantings

I was again idle today at class and i was singing LP's "What i've done".As usual,i thought of writing up some shit.As i was singing that particular song..i thought of our world just minutes away from destruction...our world all set to be destroyed by its creator itself.

There are a few lines which need explanation...and they are starred and explained later.
I came up with this write up..

We are living a dream,
that we haven't realised
our end is at hand
and crawling up our necks.

We forgot to count days,
yet we are freaking happily,
like this is our last day
and yet it is so!

War is at hand,
and dusk has fallen.
Still there's no sign of a resistance
but only the sound of music.*

For the species to come,
this will be remembered as the final battle,
the one between submissive humans
and the indestructible fate.

The time has grown dark,
as if Tolkien's Orcs are near.*
The blade has turned blue*
but we turn blind.

There's no smell of a fight,
no sight suggesting a dramatic end,
no sign of belief
for there's nothing to beleive.

The sun beats down
for one last time.
There's no hint of rain
for the world has dried up.

As the trees wither out,
the grass turns brown.
The shadows swallowed the ground
and Sauron's lightning strikes.*

The birds flee their last flight
even as the dogs bark to death.
There's chaos all around,
but the music keeps playing.

The ground burps and dances
as the cement begins to crack.
The music dies out,
and at last there's realisation.

Its panic and grief all over
followed by stampedes and sorrow.
There are cries of help,
which fall on deaf ears of none.

The world shrieks aloud,
and cries in pain.
The Earth beneath collapses
and we know not yet how deep our fall will be!


*but only the sound of music - there's so much happening all around..but we humans fail to take notice and go on with our daily activities.The music is bought in to point out that humans are enjoying their life.
*as if Tolkien's Orcs are near - Orcs are the soldiers of the Enemy Sauron in 'The lord of the rings' written by JRR.Tolkien.
*The blade has turned blue - The hero in 'The lord of the rings' carries a sword which glows blue when Orcs are near.
*and Sauron's lightning strikes - Sauron,as mentioned earlier,is the Enemy...and his lightning is artificial made of fire.A signal that he is powerful and at work.

The beginning of the End

As another year approached its end,it was time for people to party,to welcome a new year in style,to make senseless resolutions,to try to forget forgetful events of the past year,and as always..hope for a better year.January 1 is a day assumed to be the first day of a year.Mankind has intelligently designed his calendar in such a way that a new year knocks our door often,though not too often,for that may turn monotonous.Yes,our Earth finishes its one revolution in a year,and so a year came into existence.But,little do we realise how much our Earth suffers to complete that one round.It cannot be denied,that our planet is ageing and is nearing its last days.The situation has arisen that it is no more in our hands or in that of superman's or the power puff girls' to save our Earth.Such is fate.All we can do best,is maybe prolong our planet's lifetime a bit.Statistics and facts are always mentioned when it comes to the discussion of any threats to our planet.Facts like a so-so nation would be under the sea by 2050 or there is so-so% of pollutant emission by a so-so country is never forgotten to be mentioned.But what purpose does it entertain?It just remains a fact/statistic.Thoughts are converted to words.Words are not converted into actions.
I don't deny that certain organisations or individuals or governments come out with recommendations to help reduce Global warming.Things like use of incandescent lamps,planting greenery..blah blah..are always being said.We just read it..but does it enter our goddamn brains?A Kyoto protocol was put into agreement in 2002(or so i think) and no country has even come close to the target(concerning pollution levels) that was set to be achieved by 2010.Where does all this lead to?
We are just capable of talking facts.We are too lazy to even put our thoughts into action.Another target would be setup in the future and again would not be achieved.The show goes on.But how long?It has to end sometime.A few decades back,our common man wouldn't have known what the fuck is global warming.But now,he knows.And that is it!No more!Its goddamn enough if we know what it is.Such is the nature of mankind.We will talk whatever we think we know about saving Earth till it at last perishes.But there is hope.
What if a superman or a power puff girls do succeed?Yeah,there is hope in imagination.
I am sorry that i had to begin a new year on such a note.But,you aren't sad are you?You are just tired after the New year bash right?Lets keep partying!