| THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Footage from pop culture, advertising, TV news, and corporate propaganda, illuminates the corporation's grip on our lives. Taking its legal status as a "person" to its logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?" Provoking, witty, sweepingly informative, The Corporation includes forty interviews with corporate insiders and critics - including Milton Friedman, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change. | |
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
The Corporation
Richard Feynman - A Video interview
I wish I had the privilege to sit through one of his lectures, but I was only Five when he passed away. The following video illustrates a brief glimpse of his prolific personality. | |
Excellent short 40 min documentary interview with Dr. RP Feynman- one of the greatest physicist of our times and a Nobel Laureate. Specially uploaded for students of NSIT. | |
Explaining Refraction in water
A Briefing about my Favourite Scientist in Wiki
Richard Phillips Feynman (May 11, 1918 in Queens, New York – February 15, 1988 in Los Angeles, California) was an influential American physicist known for expanding greatly on the theory of quantum electrodynamics, particle theory, and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium. For his work on quantum electrodynamics, Feynman was one of the recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, along with Julian Schwinger and Shin-Ichiro Tomonaga; in this work, he developed a way to understand the behavior of subatomic particles using pictorial tools now called Feynman diagrams.
He helped in the development of the atomic bomb and was later a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. For all his prolific contributions, Feynman wrote only 37 research papers in his career. Apart from pure physics, Feynman is also credited with the revolutionary concept and early exploration of quantum computing, and publicly envisioning nanotechnology, the ability to create devices at the molecular scale. He held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in theoretical physics at Caltech.
Feynman was a keen and influential popularizer of physics in both his books and lectures, notably a seminal 1959 talk on top-down nanotechnology called There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom and The Feynman Lectures on Physics, a three-volume set which has become a classic text. In his lifetime as well as in the years after his death, he became one of the most publicly known scientists of the century. Known for his insatiable curiosity, gentle wit, brilliant mind and playful temperament [1], he is also famous for his many adventures, detailed in the books Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, What Do You Care What Other People Think? and Tuva or Bust!. As well as being an inspiring lecturer, bongo player, notorious practical joker, and decipherer of Mayan hieroglyphics, Richard Feynman was, in many respects, an eccentric and a free spirit. He liked to pursue many independent paths, such as biology, art, percussion, and lockbreaking. Freeman Dyson once wrote that Feynman was "half-genius, half-buffoon", but later changed this to "all-genius, all-buffoon".
Quotations
"Dear Mrs. Chown, Ignore your son's attempts to teach you physics. Physics isn't the most important thing. Love is. Best wishes, Richard Feynman."
"Physics is to math what sex is to masturbation."
"Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it."
"Mathematics is not real, but it feels real. Where is this place?"
"The same equations have the same solutions."
(Thus when you have solved a mathematical problem, you can re-use the solution in another physical situation. Feynman was skilled in transforming a problem into one that he could solve.)
"When you are solving a problem, don't worry. Now, after you have solved the problem, then that's the time to worry."
"The wonderful thing about science is that it's alive."
"All fundamental processes are reversible."
"What does it mean, to understand? ... I don't know."
"What I cannot create, I do not understand." (Taken from his chalkboard after his death.)
"Know how to solve every problem that has ever been solved." (Taken from his chalkboard after his death.)
"But I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose—which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell, possibly. It doesn't frighten me."
"To those who do not know mathematics it is difficult to get across a real feeling as to the beauty, the deepest beauty, of nature ... If you want to learn about nature, to appreciate nature, it is necessary to understand the language that she speaks in."
"I cannot define the real problem, therefore I suspect there's no real problem, but I'm not sure there's no real problem." (about Quantum Mechanics)
"When playing Russian roullete the fact that the first shot got off safely is little comfort for the next" (about the Challenger disaster)
"I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring" (last words)
Quotations about Feynman
Write down the problem;
Think very hard;
Write down the answer.
The Nobel laureate physicist and mathematician E.P. Wigner said about Feynman, "He is a second Dirac. Only this time human".
Richard Feynman, He was not a simple simon.Saturday, September 16, 2006
Golden Ratio on Numb3rs
If you haven’t seen it already, NUMB3RS is a drama on FBI agents using mathematics as a tool to help solve crimes. I decided that some of the mathematics mentioned in it warranted further exploration. So, I am adding three extracts from the show with a brief explanation expanding on each.
The Golden Ratio
"The good, of course, is always beautiful, and the beautiful never lacks proportion"- Plato
Golden Ratios... Not just the Davinci's works...
The Greek's referred to it as the "Divine Proportion". And many mathematicians describe the Fibonacci sequence and Golden ratio as the most beautiful set of numbers in mathematics. It is a number common to the entire Universe; from sea shells to galaxies, we come across it everyday in one form or another. Its elegance can be witnessed in Leonardo Da Vinci’s infamous sketch, the Vitruvian man. Even best seller novelist, Dan Brown, carefully incorporated it in Da Vinci Code, wherein it plays a vital role in developing the overall plot.
Research has shown that living organisms subliminally prefer objects that are proportioned according to the golden ratio. The thought that a simple set of numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…) dictate the perceived beauty of the entire Universe has inspired generations of philosophers and mathematicians.
Chaos Theory on NUMB3RS
A Video on CHAOS THEORY
A Video on CHAOS THEORY
"It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world" - Butterfly Effect
Chaos theory dictates that any set of complex situations are, in fact, a sum of ordered circumstances; therefore, making the chaos conceivable through mathematical analysis. Chaos theory has been applied for predicting varying systems such as tropical storms and terrorist attacks. It is an elegant branch of mathematics in a sense that it makes the seemingly unpredictable complexities predictable.
Chaos theory holds that the sum of a series of seemingly random coincidences follows a calculable pattern. People we meet, where we live, what we believe in, or why we are still alive; these are extensions of a system that appears chaotic to us. But at scale grandeur enough, there is order to it. Lines and Dots remain to be connected.
As a final note, I would like to state that any model we come up with does not describe the Universe but rather what the brain is capable of so far. Following is a source from WIKI...
Chaos theory is among the youngest of the sciences, and has rocketed from its obscure roots in the seventies to become one of the most fascinating fields in existence. At the forefront of much research on physical systems, and already being implemented in fields covering as diverse matter as arrhythmic pacemakers, image compression, and fluid dynamics, chaos science promises to continue to yield absorbing scientific information which may shape the face of science in the future.
Chaos Overview
What is chaos theory?
Formally, chaos theory is defined as the study of complex nonlinear dynamic systems. Complex implies just that, nonlinear implies recursion and higher mathematical algorithms, and dynamic implies nonconstant and nonperiodic. Thus chaos theory is, very generally, the study of forever changing complex systems based on mathematical concepts of recursion, whether in the form of a recursive process or a set of differential equations modeling a physical system. For a more rigorous definition of chaos theory, it is advisable to visit the much more scientific, much more broad-reaching chaos network definition, in their excellent HTML document, What Is Chaos Theory?, also available in a text only version.
Misconceptions about chaos theory
Chaos theory has received some attention, beginning with its popularity in movies such as Jurassic Park; public awareness of a science of chaos has been steadily increasing. However, as with any media covered item, many misconceptions have arisen concerning chaos theory. The most commonly held misconception about chaos theory is that chaos theory is about disorder. Nothing could be further from the truth! Chaos theory is not about disorder! It does not disprove determinism or dictate that ordered systems are impossible; it does not invalidate experimental evidence or claim that modelling complex systems is useless. The "chaos" in chaos theory is order--not simply order, but the very ESSENCE of order.
It is true that chaos theory dictates that minor changes can cause huge fluctuations. But one of the central concepts of chaos theory is that while it is impossible to exactly predict the state of a system, it is generally quite possible, even easy, to model the overall behavior of a system. Thus, chaos theory lays emphasis not on the disorder of the system--the inherent unpredictability of a system--but on the order inherent in the system--the universal behavior of similar systems.
Thus, it is incorrect to say that chaos theory is about disorder. To take an example, consider Lorenz's Attractor. The Lorenz Attractor is based on three differential equations, three constants, and three initial conditions. The attractor represents the behavior of gas at any given time, and its condition at any given time depends upon its condition at a previous time. If the initial conditions are changed by even a tiny amount, say as tiny as the inverse of Avogadro's number (a heinously small number with an order of 1E-24), checking the attractor at a later time will yield numbers totally different. This is because small differences will propagate themselves recursively until numbers are entirely dissimilar to the original system with the original initial conditions.
However, the plot of the attractor will look very much the same.
Both systems will have totally different values at any given time, and yet the plot of the attractor--the overall behavior of the system--will be the same. Chaos theory predicts that complex nonlinear systems are inherently unpredictable--but, at the same time, chaos theory also insures that often, the way to express such an unpredictable system lies not in exact equations, but in representations of the behavior of a system--in plots of strange attractors or in fractals. Thus, chaos theory, which many think is about unpredictability, is at the same time about predictability in even the most unstable systems.
How is chaos theory applicable to the real world?
Everyone always wants to know one thing about new discoveries--what good are they? So what good is chaos theory? First and foremost, chaos theory is a theory. As such, much of it is of use more as scientific background than as direct applicable knowledge. Chaos theory is great as a way of looking at events which happen in the world differently from the more traditional strictly deterministic view which has dominated science from Newtonian times. Moviegoers who watched Jurassic Park are surely aware that chaos theory can profoundly affect the way someone thinks about the world; and indeed, chaos theory is useful as a tool with which to interpret scientific data in new ways. Instead of a traditional X-Y plot, scientists can now interpret phase-space diagrams which--rather than describing the exact position of some variable with respect to time--represents the overall behavior of a system. Instead of looking for strict equations conforming to statistical data, we can now look for dynamic systems with behavior similar in nature to the statistical data--systems, that is, with similar attractors. Chaos theory provides a sound framework with which to develop scientific knowledge.
However, this is not to say that chaos theory has no applications in real life. Chaos theory techniques have been used to model biological systems, which are of course some of the most chaotic systems imaginable. Systems of dynamic equations have been used to modeleverything from population growth to epidemics to arrhythmic heart palpitations. In fact, almost any chaotic system can be readily modeled--the stock market provides trends which can be analyzed with strange attractors more readily than with conventional explicit equations; a dripping faucet seems random to the untrained ear, but when plotted as a strange attractor, reveals an eerie order unexpected by conventional means. Fractals have cropped up everywhere, most notably in graphic applications like the highly successful Fractal Design Painter series of products. Fractal image compression techniques are still under research, but promise such amazing results as 600:1 graphic compression ratios. The movie special effects industry would have much less realistic clouds, rocks, and shadows without fractal graphic technology. And of course, chaos theory gives people a wonderfully interesting way to become more interested in mathematics, one of the more unpopular pursuits of the day.
Chaos Overview
What is chaos theory?
Formally, chaos theory is defined as the study of complex nonlinear dynamic systems. Complex implies just that, nonlinear implies recursion and higher mathematical algorithms, and dynamic implies nonconstant and nonperiodic. Thus chaos theory is, very generally, the study of forever changing complex systems based on mathematical concepts of recursion, whether in the form of a recursive process or a set of differential equations modeling a physical system. For a more rigorous definition of chaos theory, it is advisable to visit the much more scientific, much more broad-reaching chaos network definition, in their excellent HTML document, What Is Chaos Theory?, also available in a text only version.
Misconceptions about chaos theory
Chaos theory has received some attention, beginning with its popularity in movies such as Jurassic Park; public awareness of a science of chaos has been steadily increasing. However, as with any media covered item, many misconceptions have arisen concerning chaos theory. The most commonly held misconception about chaos theory is that chaos theory is about disorder. Nothing could be further from the truth! Chaos theory is not about disorder! It does not disprove determinism or dictate that ordered systems are impossible; it does not invalidate experimental evidence or claim that modelling complex systems is useless. The "chaos" in chaos theory is order--not simply order, but the very ESSENCE of order.
It is true that chaos theory dictates that minor changes can cause huge fluctuations. But one of the central concepts of chaos theory is that while it is impossible to exactly predict the state of a system, it is generally quite possible, even easy, to model the overall behavior of a system. Thus, chaos theory lays emphasis not on the disorder of the system--the inherent unpredictability of a system--but on the order inherent in the system--the universal behavior of similar systems.
Thus, it is incorrect to say that chaos theory is about disorder. To take an example, consider Lorenz's Attractor. The Lorenz Attractor is based on three differential equations, three constants, and three initial conditions. The attractor represents the behavior of gas at any given time, and its condition at any given time depends upon its condition at a previous time. If the initial conditions are changed by even a tiny amount, say as tiny as the inverse of Avogadro's number (a heinously small number with an order of 1E-24), checking the attractor at a later time will yield numbers totally different. This is because small differences will propagate themselves recursively until numbers are entirely dissimilar to the original system with the original initial conditions.
However, the plot of the attractor will look very much the same.
Both systems will have totally different values at any given time, and yet the plot of the attractor--the overall behavior of the system--will be the same. Chaos theory predicts that complex nonlinear systems are inherently unpredictable--but, at the same time, chaos theory also insures that often, the way to express such an unpredictable system lies not in exact equations, but in representations of the behavior of a system--in plots of strange attractors or in fractals. Thus, chaos theory, which many think is about unpredictability, is at the same time about predictability in even the most unstable systems.
How is chaos theory applicable to the real world?
Everyone always wants to know one thing about new discoveries--what good are they? So what good is chaos theory? First and foremost, chaos theory is a theory. As such, much of it is of use more as scientific background than as direct applicable knowledge. Chaos theory is great as a way of looking at events which happen in the world differently from the more traditional strictly deterministic view which has dominated science from Newtonian times. Moviegoers who watched Jurassic Park are surely aware that chaos theory can profoundly affect the way someone thinks about the world; and indeed, chaos theory is useful as a tool with which to interpret scientific data in new ways. Instead of a traditional X-Y plot, scientists can now interpret phase-space diagrams which--rather than describing the exact position of some variable with respect to time--represents the overall behavior of a system. Instead of looking for strict equations conforming to statistical data, we can now look for dynamic systems with behavior similar in nature to the statistical data--systems, that is, with similar attractors. Chaos theory provides a sound framework with which to develop scientific knowledge.
However, this is not to say that chaos theory has no applications in real life. Chaos theory techniques have been used to model biological systems, which are of course some of the most chaotic systems imaginable. Systems of dynamic equations have been used to modeleverything from population growth to epidemics to arrhythmic heart palpitations. In fact, almost any chaotic system can be readily modeled--the stock market provides trends which can be analyzed with strange attractors more readily than with conventional explicit equations; a dripping faucet seems random to the untrained ear, but when plotted as a strange attractor, reveals an eerie order unexpected by conventional means. Fractals have cropped up everywhere, most notably in graphic applications like the highly successful Fractal Design Painter series of products. Fractal image compression techniques are still under research, but promise such amazing results as 600:1 graphic compression ratios. The movie special effects industry would have much less realistic clouds, rocks, and shadows without fractal graphic technology. And of course, chaos theory gives people a wonderfully interesting way to become more interested in mathematics, one of the more unpopular pursuits of the day.
Uncertainty Principle on NUMB3RS
Nature in Numbers...
Nature in Numbers...
I think it is safe to say that no one understands quantum mechanics" - Richard Feynman
It seems that each century brings about a radical model revising the then standard view of the Universe. Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle was part of the revolution, in the first half of the 20th century, which redefined the constructs of the Universe. Heisenberg’s proposal happened to be so drastic that it made Quantum mechanics unacceptable for Albert Einstein. It states that the more certain “we” are of an electron’s position around the atom, the less certain our knowledge of its momentum becomes. Einstein believed in a Universe of finite possibilities; in other words, a Universe wherein anything can be calculated with absolute precision using mathematical equations. As it turned out, this was not the case with Quantum mechanics.
According to the Uncertainty Principle, it is theoretically impossible to calculate with certainty any quantity at the Quantum scale. Mathematically speaking, a single electron is everywhere in the Universe, except for the rare case where it comes in physical contact with a photon. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle gave rise to the chaotic and complex world of elementary particles, superposition, entanglement, parallel universes, and double digit dimensions. A simple four letter equation drew a new picture of the atom, one in which probability, not determinism, dictates the state of the Universe.
It is a perplexing thought that the chaos and uncertainty at the Quantum scale somehow adds up to yield a stable ordered world that we have come to known. The Universe has absolutely no reason to be in such perfect symphony.
Monday, September 11, 2006
All About Bryan Adams
Step right up, folks. It's time to see the sole Canadian musician capable of writing a tear-jerking chart-topper, flirting with royalty and saving the whales -- all while sweatily thrashing around a stage like it's the summer of '69. Call him a man of many talents -- we'll just call him Bryan Adams. Juggling a multitude of roles is all in a day's work for the 46-year-old Vancouver-bred CanRock songster you've known and loved for decades. Want him to sing? He can sing. Want him to rock? He can rock. Want him to photograph the Queen for a postage stamp? He can do that, too. We know it's true -- everything Adams does, he does for you. And because he's a ...
HOPELESS ROMANTIC A Bryan Adams song without the words "love" and "baby" is almost as rare as a wedding reception void of his mushy ballads. And like a gentleman, Adams keeps his love life out of tabloids, with the exception of an alleged royal fling in 2003 (see Sugar Daddy). Until then, the balladeer serenaded long-term supermodel girlfriend/Bond girl Cecilie Thomsen, who also starred in videos for Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? and Let's Make a Night to Remember .
TELLING LYRIC: You know it's true, everything I do -- I do it for you.
ROCK 'N' ROLLER Lovey-dovey crap aside, Adams can rock. Not in that bat-decapitating Ozzy Osbourne way, but in that wholesome dude-next-door way. Superstar producer Robert John (Mutt) Lange (Def Leppard, Shania Twain) gave him a mid-career lesson in Stardom 101 and had a hand in the 1991 smash Waking Up the Neighbours. Party-hearty anthems like Summer of '69 and 18 Til I Die reveal Adams' rockin' side -- if the guitar permanently attached to his hip weren't enough.
TELLING LYRIC: I got my first real six string / Bought it at the five and dime / Played it 'till my fingers bled / It was the summer of '69.
HUMANITARIAN Adams passes on the Canadian bacon, but don't bug him for being unpatriotic. He's vegan -- and voted one of PETA's sexiest at that. Elephants and whales also top his list of animals to save. Adams co-wrote 1985 charity tune Tears Are Not Enough for Ethiopian famine relief, played at the Philadelphia Live Aid concert and at last July's Live 8 gig in Barrie, Ont. Since losing a close friend to breast cancer, the strummer's supported research for the disease with profits from his photography books, Made in Canada and American Women.
TELLING LYRIC: On a day like today the whole world could change / The sun's gonna shine shine through the rain.
MAN'S MAN Transportation of choice: motorcycle. Outfit of choice: Well-worn jeans, T-shirt and sneakers. No. of bike accidents: One known. No. of gunshot wounds: One, from an air rifle, received while riding a bike through London. 'Nuff said.
TELLING LYRIC: Yeah, we can get some beer / Yeah, let's get outta here.
SUGAR DADDY Adams sometimes crosses the line between romantic and erotic in his lyrics, and supposedly elsewhere. That is, if we are to believe rumours that he turned a boyish crush on Princess Diana into a full-blown affair shortly after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996. And if we buy more rumours of a thing with Pamela Anderson and a drunken fling with Kate Moss. While Adams is a pro at keeping mum about his endeavors, he'll admit to having pictures of Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley and Scarlett Johansson -- but only because he took their photos for Made in America.
TELLING LYRIC: From your feet up to your hair, more than anything I swear / I wanna be your underwear.
POP SCENESTER Between the Hollywood soundtracks and radio-friendly tunes, Adams is a regular Britney Spears. OK, maybe that's pushing it. However, his first single was a'79 disco track called, Let Me Take You Dancing (which he has since denied exists). There's his nine No. 1 singles and trademark gushy flick hits. And the fact that he went to high school with Michael J. Fox and sang bubblegummy collaborations with Rod Stewart, Sting and Spice Girl Mel C. give him enough pop potential to host MTV's TRL
TELLING LYRIC: Baby when you're gone (when you're gone) / I realize I'm in love (so in love) / Days go on and on / And the nights just seem so long
Step right up, folks. It's time to see the sole Canadian musician capable of writing a tear-jerking chart-topper, flirting with royalty and saving the whales -- all while sweatily thrashing around a stage like it's the summer of '69. Call him a man of many talents -- we'll just call him Bryan Adams. Juggling a multitude of roles is all in a day's work for the 46-year-old Vancouver-bred CanRock songster you've known and loved for decades. Want him to sing? He can sing. Want him to rock? He can rock. Want him to photograph the Queen for a postage stamp? He can do that, too. We know it's true -- everything Adams does, he does for you. And because he's a ...
HOPELESS ROMANTIC A Bryan Adams song without the words "love" and "baby" is almost as rare as a wedding reception void of his mushy ballads. And like a gentleman, Adams keeps his love life out of tabloids, with the exception of an alleged royal fling in 2003 (see Sugar Daddy). Until then, the balladeer serenaded long-term supermodel girlfriend/Bond girl Cecilie Thomsen, who also starred in videos for Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? and Let's Make a Night to Remember .
TELLING LYRIC: You know it's true, everything I do -- I do it for you.
ROCK 'N' ROLLER Lovey-dovey crap aside, Adams can rock. Not in that bat-decapitating Ozzy Osbourne way, but in that wholesome dude-next-door way. Superstar producer Robert John (Mutt) Lange (Def Leppard, Shania Twain) gave him a mid-career lesson in Stardom 101 and had a hand in the 1991 smash Waking Up the Neighbours. Party-hearty anthems like Summer of '69 and 18 Til I Die reveal Adams' rockin' side -- if the guitar permanently attached to his hip weren't enough.
TELLING LYRIC: I got my first real six string / Bought it at the five and dime / Played it 'till my fingers bled / It was the summer of '69.
HUMANITARIAN Adams passes on the Canadian bacon, but don't bug him for being unpatriotic. He's vegan -- and voted one of PETA's sexiest at that. Elephants and whales also top his list of animals to save. Adams co-wrote 1985 charity tune Tears Are Not Enough for Ethiopian famine relief, played at the Philadelphia Live Aid concert and at last July's Live 8 gig in Barrie, Ont. Since losing a close friend to breast cancer, the strummer's supported research for the disease with profits from his photography books, Made in Canada and American Women.
TELLING LYRIC: On a day like today the whole world could change / The sun's gonna shine shine through the rain.
MAN'S MAN Transportation of choice: motorcycle. Outfit of choice: Well-worn jeans, T-shirt and sneakers. No. of bike accidents: One known. No. of gunshot wounds: One, from an air rifle, received while riding a bike through London. 'Nuff said.
TELLING LYRIC: Yeah, we can get some beer / Yeah, let's get outta here.
SUGAR DADDY Adams sometimes crosses the line between romantic and erotic in his lyrics, and supposedly elsewhere. That is, if we are to believe rumours that he turned a boyish crush on Princess Diana into a full-blown affair shortly after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996. And if we buy more rumours of a thing with Pamela Anderson and a drunken fling with Kate Moss. While Adams is a pro at keeping mum about his endeavors, he'll admit to having pictures of Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley and Scarlett Johansson -- but only because he took their photos for Made in America.
TELLING LYRIC: From your feet up to your hair, more than anything I swear / I wanna be your underwear.
POP SCENESTER Between the Hollywood soundtracks and radio-friendly tunes, Adams is a regular Britney Spears. OK, maybe that's pushing it. However, his first single was a'79 disco track called, Let Me Take You Dancing (which he has since denied exists). There's his nine No. 1 singles and trademark gushy flick hits. And the fact that he went to high school with Michael J. Fox and sang bubblegummy collaborations with Rod Stewart, Sting and Spice Girl Mel C. give him enough pop potential to host MTV's TRL
TELLING LYRIC: Baby when you're gone (when you're gone) / I realize I'm in love (so in love) / Days go on and on / And the nights just seem so long
Friday, September 08, 2006
Technology is for wiping tears
31/Jan/2004 : New Delhi
Rockets and Missiles are there only for deterring enemy not to harm our country? Technology is universal by nature. The technology that goes into making missiles can also help a polio affected child as real leg support.
The light metal used in missiles help to lift off bearing so much heat, the same light metal helps the polio affected child to walk and play like a butterfly. There are spin off from the Defence, Nuclear and Space Technologies from which solutions for cost effective medical devices could be developed.
Why our people should be forced to buy expensive foreign products during his distress with diseases? Can our indigenous technology provide a solution to common man shielding him from the threat of financial disaster in saving life in an emergency health situation ?
The answer to such questions led to the adaptation of indigenous technologies from all sectors into creation of an organisation called Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT). It was created in 1993 bringing together various Government Departments and Medical Institutes. For the first time Engineers and Doctors were brought together to work in a hospital environment to develop affordable solutions for financially crippled patients with their healthcare problems. The efforts of inter-disciplinary teams cutting across organizational boundaries have fructified in the form of ` A light weight limb support for polio affected patients called Floor Reaction Orthosis (FRO). The application of ultra-strong fiber reinforced plastic used to make missile nose cones led to the replacement of a 4 Kg conventional caliper into a 400 g FRO.
Courtesy: http://www.abdulkalam.com
குருடர்களின் யானை
குருடர்கள் யானையை அறிவார்களா?
அறிவார்கள்...
குருடர்கள் அறிவதைப் போல
உண்மை என்பது யானை
தத்துவங்கள் எல்லாம் குருடர்கள்
யானை உரல் போன்றது என்றவன் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் கால்
உரல் போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
யானை உலக்கை போன்றது என்றவனும் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் துதிக்கை
உலக்கை போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
யானை முறம் போன்றது என்ட்றவனும் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் காது
முறம் போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
யானை துடைப்பம் போன்றது என்றவனும் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் வால்
துடைப்பம் போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
ஒவ்வொரு குருடனுக்கும் ஏதாவது ஒன்று அகப்படுகிறது
நிற்கும் இடத்தை பொறுத்து...
அகப்படுவது கைகளுக்குத்தான்...கண்களுக்கு அல்ல
ஏனெனில் அவர்கள் காண முடியாதவர்கள்
அவர்கள் அறிந்ததை கொண்டு அறியாததை சொல்லுகிறார்கள்
அவர்களால் அப்படித்தான் சொல்ல முடியும்
அந்த அறியாதது அறிந்ததை போன்றதுதான்
ஆனால் அறிந்ததே அல்ல!!!
அவர்கள் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
யாரும் பொய் சொல்ல முடியாது
ஏனெனில்.... இல்லாததை எவரும் சொல்ல முடியாது
பொய்யிலும் உண்டு உண்மை
ஒவ்வரு குருடனும் யானையின் ஒரு பகுதியையே அறிகிறான்
குருடர்களால் முழுமையை அறிய முடியாது
நான்கு பேர் சொல்லிலும் உண்டு உண்மை
ஆனால் நான்கிலும் இல்லை முழு உண்மை
அதனால் தான் நடக்கிறது சர்ச்சை
'உண்டு' என்பவனும் உண்மையே சொல்கிறான்
'இல்லை' என்பவனும் உண்மையே சொல்கிறான்
இரண்டும் முரணானவை அல்ல
இரண்டும் உண்மையின் வெவ்வேறு தரிசனங்களே
முன் பக்கம் நிற்பவன் முகத்தை பார்க்கிறான்
பின் பக்கம் நிற்பவன் முதுகை பார்க்கிறான்
தெரிவது மட்டுமல்ல உண்மை
பார்வைக்கு அப்பாலும் இருக்கிறது உண்மை
'உண்டு'ம் 'இல்லை'யும் சேர்ந்ததே முழு உண்மை
எல்லாப்பக்கமும் நின்று பார்ப்பவனே
உண்மையை முழுமையாக தரிசிக்கிரான்
யானையிடம் உரல் போன்றதும் உண்டு என்றால் பிரச்சனை இல்லை'
யானை என்பது உரலே உலக்கை அல்ல 'என்றான் ஒருவன் ...பிரச்சனை பிற்ந்தது
உரலும் உலக்கையும் மோதிக்கொண்டன
இன்னொருவன் வந்தான்'யானை நெல் குத்துவதற்கே' என்றான்
இன்னொருவன் வந்தான்அவன் உரலையே யானை என்றான்
தொடங்கியது இருளின் சகாப்தம்இது தான் மூட மதங்களின் கதை...
------------------------------------------- கவிக்கோ அப்துல் ரகுமான்
குருடர்கள் யானையை அறிவார்களா?
அறிவார்கள்...
குருடர்கள் அறிவதைப் போல
உண்மை என்பது யானை
தத்துவங்கள் எல்லாம் குருடர்கள்
யானை உரல் போன்றது என்றவன் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் கால்
உரல் போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
யானை உலக்கை போன்றது என்றவனும் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் துதிக்கை
உலக்கை போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
யானை முறம் போன்றது என்ட்றவனும் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் காது
முறம் போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
யானை துடைப்பம் போன்றது என்றவனும் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
அவனுக்கு அகப்பட்டது யானையின் வால்
துடைப்பம் போன்ற ஒன்று யானையில் உண்டு
ஒவ்வொரு குருடனுக்கும் ஏதாவது ஒன்று அகப்படுகிறது
நிற்கும் இடத்தை பொறுத்து...
அகப்படுவது கைகளுக்குத்தான்...கண்களுக்கு அல்ல
ஏனெனில் அவர்கள் காண முடியாதவர்கள்
அவர்கள் அறிந்ததை கொண்டு அறியாததை சொல்லுகிறார்கள்
அவர்களால் அப்படித்தான் சொல்ல முடியும்
அந்த அறியாதது அறிந்ததை போன்றதுதான்
ஆனால் அறிந்ததே அல்ல!!!
அவர்கள் பொய் சொல்லவில்லை
யாரும் பொய் சொல்ல முடியாது
ஏனெனில்.... இல்லாததை எவரும் சொல்ல முடியாது
பொய்யிலும் உண்டு உண்மை
ஒவ்வரு குருடனும் யானையின் ஒரு பகுதியையே அறிகிறான்
குருடர்களால் முழுமையை அறிய முடியாது
நான்கு பேர் சொல்லிலும் உண்டு உண்மை
ஆனால் நான்கிலும் இல்லை முழு உண்மை
அதனால் தான் நடக்கிறது சர்ச்சை
'உண்டு' என்பவனும் உண்மையே சொல்கிறான்
'இல்லை' என்பவனும் உண்மையே சொல்கிறான்
இரண்டும் முரணானவை அல்ல
இரண்டும் உண்மையின் வெவ்வேறு தரிசனங்களே
முன் பக்கம் நிற்பவன் முகத்தை பார்க்கிறான்
பின் பக்கம் நிற்பவன் முதுகை பார்க்கிறான்
தெரிவது மட்டுமல்ல உண்மை
பார்வைக்கு அப்பாலும் இருக்கிறது உண்மை
'உண்டு'ம் 'இல்லை'யும் சேர்ந்ததே முழு உண்மை
எல்லாப்பக்கமும் நின்று பார்ப்பவனே
உண்மையை முழுமையாக தரிசிக்கிரான்
யானையிடம் உரல் போன்றதும் உண்டு என்றால் பிரச்சனை இல்லை'
யானை என்பது உரலே உலக்கை அல்ல 'என்றான் ஒருவன் ...பிரச்சனை பிற்ந்தது
உரலும் உலக்கையும் மோதிக்கொண்டன
இன்னொருவன் வந்தான்'யானை நெல் குத்துவதற்கே' என்றான்
இன்னொருவன் வந்தான்அவன் உரலையே யானை என்றான்
தொடங்கியது இருளின் சகாப்தம்இது தான் மூட மதங்களின் கதை...
------------------------------------------- கவிக்கோ அப்துல் ரகுமான்
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Many Happy Returns
By Swami Vivekananda, Written on September 22, 1900, to Alberta Sturges for her twenty-third birthday. It was sent to her to Paris from Perros-Guirec in Brittany. The Poem “A Benediction” was also presented to Sister Nivedita on the same date. It is also significant that the first few lines of both the poems are identical. After presenting the poem to Alberta, Swamiji wrote below: “This little poem is for your birthday. It is not good, but it has all my love. I am sure, therefore, you will like it.” The poem is reproduced from CW 7:526.
The mother's heart, the hero's will,
The softest flower's sweetest feel;
The charm and force that ever sway
The altar fire's flaming play;
The strength that leads, in love obeys;
Far-reaching dreams, and patient ways,
Eternal faith in Self, in all
The sight Divine in great in small;
All these, and more than I could see
Today may "Mother" grant to thee.
By Swami Vivekananda, Written on September 22, 1900, to Alberta Sturges for her twenty-third birthday. It was sent to her to Paris from Perros-Guirec in Brittany. The Poem “A Benediction” was also presented to Sister Nivedita on the same date. It is also significant that the first few lines of both the poems are identical. After presenting the poem to Alberta, Swamiji wrote below: “This little poem is for your birthday. It is not good, but it has all my love. I am sure, therefore, you will like it.” The poem is reproduced from CW 7:526.
The mother's heart, the hero's will,
The softest flower's sweetest feel;
The charm and force that ever sway
The altar fire's flaming play;
The strength that leads, in love obeys;
Far-reaching dreams, and patient ways,
Eternal faith in Self, in all
The sight Divine in great in small;
All these, and more than I could see
Today may "Mother" grant to thee.
Ode to the Automan Empire
discovered this when deleting old backups, and put quick gauge. Don't even remember ever writing this . . .
All these blokes who drive an Auto
seem to be completely blotto.
They never drive you anywhere
without demanding excess fare.
And worst of all, they sometimes will
talk politics to you until
you find their views so unappealing
they give you a queasy feeling.
Wouldn’t life be so much better
if someone put them through a shredder?
Then they’d all be good and dead
and we could take the bus instead.
discovered this when deleting old backups, and put quick gauge. Don't even remember ever writing this . . .
All these blokes who drive an Auto
seem to be completely blotto.
They never drive you anywhere
without demanding excess fare.
And worst of all, they sometimes will
talk politics to you until
you find their views so unappealing
they give you a queasy feeling.
Wouldn’t life be so much better
if someone put them through a shredder?
Then they’d all be good and dead
and we could take the bus instead.
To My Own Soul
Written by Swami Vivekananda, Composed @ Ridgely Manor in upstate New York in November 1899 and it is reproduced from CW 8:170.
Hold yet a while, Strong Heart,
Not part a lifelong yoke
Though blighted looks the present, future gloom.
And age it seems since you and I began our
March up hill or down. Sailing smooth o'er
Seas that are so rare--
Thou nearer unto me, than oft-times I myself--
Proclaiming mental moves before they were!
Reflector true--Thy pulse so timed to mine,
Thou perfect note of thoughts, however fine--
Shall we now part, Recorder, say?
In thee is friendship, faith,
For thou didst warn when evil thoughts were brewing--
And though, alas, thy warning thrown away,
Went on the same as ever--good and true.
Written by Swami Vivekananda, Composed @ Ridgely Manor in upstate New York in November 1899 and it is reproduced from CW 8:170.
Hold yet a while, Strong Heart,
Not part a lifelong yoke
Though blighted looks the present, future gloom.
And age it seems since you and I began our
March up hill or down. Sailing smooth o'er
Seas that are so rare--
Thou nearer unto me, than oft-times I myself--
Proclaiming mental moves before they were!
Reflector true--Thy pulse so timed to mine,
Thou perfect note of thoughts, however fine--
Shall we now part, Recorder, say?
In thee is friendship, faith,
For thou didst warn when evil thoughts were brewing--
And though, alas, thy warning thrown away,
Went on the same as ever--good and true.
Dei Ambi, ketayo?
A rascal was recently heard plotting annihilation of the dreaded tam-bram cult and stop forever curd-rice warfare in social, economic and virtual circles. As he sat with his cronies (software engineers from Bristol, New Jersey, Toronto and Tidel Park) one night-shift, he revealed his plan.
"We are to hijack The Hindu paperboy in Mylapore tomorrow morning. The Hindu must not reach Iyer and Iyengar hands! If that doesn't ensure heart attacks to every single mama on Kutcheri street, at least it'll ensure constipation."
Thanks, Meera, for this. A fantastic sociological finding:
A survey has revealed that 'Ambi Mama' is the leading relative among Tamil Brahmin families worldwide, with six in ten families having one of their own (a 60% repsesentation. Apparently, Ambi Mama held off stiff competition from Mani Mama (with 55% representation) and Baby Chitti (39%) for a well-deserved win.
"It's a great day for all Ambi Mamas. All the years of hard work-- drinking coffee, criticizing the Indian team selection and complaining about blood-pressure-- have finally paid off. Yay!", said Ambi Mama, a spokesman for the Ambi Mamas Association of Dear Old Rascals (AMBASSADOR), a division of the Hardcore Brahmin Organisation (HBO).
Yes, Vaidhi periappa did say, "Naangal ippo llaam broad-minded aakum." (These days we are all broad-minded). But...
Not all are happy with progress, however. "These youngsters are ruining everything by naming their children Archish, Dhruv and Plaha.", thundered Badri Athimber. "Can you imagine how it will sound? Dhruv Mama, Anamika Athai, Archish Chittappa-- Ugh! Phooey! That is so not cool!!", he growled, using expressions of disgust picked up from his states-based co-brother. When asked for their response, several Brahmins living in Adyar merely arched their eyebrows, pursed their lips, and continued waiting for the December music season.
Update: Further research of the same. I think it's the vibhoothi overdose that's at fault.
A rascal was recently heard plotting annihilation of the dreaded tam-bram cult and stop forever curd-rice warfare in social, economic and virtual circles. As he sat with his cronies (software engineers from Bristol, New Jersey, Toronto and Tidel Park) one night-shift, he revealed his plan.
"We are to hijack The Hindu paperboy in Mylapore tomorrow morning. The Hindu must not reach Iyer and Iyengar hands! If that doesn't ensure heart attacks to every single mama on Kutcheri street, at least it'll ensure constipation."
Thanks, Meera, for this. A fantastic sociological finding:
A survey has revealed that 'Ambi Mama' is the leading relative among Tamil Brahmin families worldwide, with six in ten families having one of their own (a 60% repsesentation. Apparently, Ambi Mama held off stiff competition from Mani Mama (with 55% representation) and Baby Chitti (39%) for a well-deserved win.
"It's a great day for all Ambi Mamas. All the years of hard work-- drinking coffee, criticizing the Indian team selection and complaining about blood-pressure-- have finally paid off. Yay!", said Ambi Mama, a spokesman for the Ambi Mamas Association of Dear Old Rascals (AMBASSADOR), a division of the Hardcore Brahmin Organisation (HBO).
Yes, Vaidhi periappa did say, "Naangal ippo llaam broad-minded aakum." (These days we are all broad-minded). But...
Not all are happy with progress, however. "These youngsters are ruining everything by naming their children Archish, Dhruv and Plaha.", thundered Badri Athimber. "Can you imagine how it will sound? Dhruv Mama, Anamika Athai, Archish Chittappa-- Ugh! Phooey! That is so not cool!!", he growled, using expressions of disgust picked up from his states-based co-brother. When asked for their response, several Brahmins living in Adyar merely arched their eyebrows, pursed their lips, and continued waiting for the December music season.
Update: Further research of the same. I think it's the vibhoothi overdose that's at fault.
Secret to Success
A young man asked Socrates the secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. They met. Socrates asked the young man to walk with him toward the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water.
The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Socrates pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air.
Socrates asked, 'What did you want the most when you were there?" The boy replied, "Air." Socrates said, "That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it." There is no other secret.
A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.
A young man asked Socrates the secret to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. They met. Socrates asked the young man to walk with him toward the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water.
The boy struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Socrates pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp and take a deep breath of air.
Socrates asked, 'What did you want the most when you were there?" The boy replied, "Air." Socrates said, "That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it." There is no other secret.
A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.
Lets reach & Teach a child......Remember the magic of your first book? Perhaps you were nestled in the arms of a parent, or sharing a giggle with a friend. Whatever your first memory of a book, books are a powerful tool; they stir the senses, inspire the imagination and spark a love of reading that can last a lifetime.
But what of children who have no books?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
HUNGER: DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?
It is estimated that one billion people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. That's roughly 100 times as many as those who actually die from these causes each year.
About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five.
Famine and wars cause about 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often. The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families facing extreme poverty are simply unable to get enough food to eat.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
MY SSB INTERVIEW @ JAN-04 FOR INDIAN ARMY..... [ PART- 2]
As I was standing near the door of my coach, my mind went back reeling to the words of my wisdom, the vision of my idol, My grandpa spoke ... Reminding me his words, never turn down, for who turn down is a loser and one who races through the troubles wins the race.. I've decided to run the race. Will i come back with cherishable memories, or will i come back the day it starts ??? it all was a mystery by that time. I went back to my seat and started to see the notes given by anandamurali. All the examples he had given. I knew it would be different. But the magnitude depends upon my fate i decided. And really enjoyed the travel that night... After the train went to the AP, a group of College guys from tibet gave company to me.. They were around 50-60 ppl. 6 of those guys were in my compartment. 4 of them were girls and 2 guys. we talked about the culture on each part and about their places of visit and about our professions too.. Luckily for me they too were happened to be engineers but from IT. And finally their destination arrived by the next morning around 10. We all exchanged our contacts...
As I was standing near the door of my coach, my mind went back reeling to the words of my wisdom, the vision of my idol, My grandpa spoke ... Reminding me his words, never turn down, for who turn down is a loser and one who races through the troubles wins the race.. I've decided to run the race. Will i come back with cherishable memories, or will i come back the day it starts ??? it all was a mystery by that time. I went back to my seat and started to see the notes given by anandamurali. All the examples he had given. I knew it would be different. But the magnitude depends upon my fate i decided. And really enjoyed the travel that night... After the train went to the AP, a group of College guys from tibet gave company to me.. They were around 50-60 ppl. 6 of those guys were in my compartment. 4 of them were girls and 2 guys. we talked about the culture on each part and about their places of visit and about our professions too.. Luckily for me they too were happened to be engineers but from IT. And finally their destination arrived by the next morning around 10. We all exchanged our contacts...
This sunday @ Beach & my Guitar......
The first step is always the most difficult for anyone. Ask a child what is more difficult? Its first tottering step or the sprint it later got acclimatised to. I have for long been contemplating on this idea of learning the Guitar. But procrastination had always been one of my strong points. The point of action must come at some point of time. The sooner the better. My best friend gave me one of the best lines i keep musing over in the recent past. "Dirty your hands if you want to learn something". Atlast, i've started to learn guitar and can now play quite a few songs with it upto my level and presently mastering the first 3 strings in the first octaves...
Went to beach last night. This was the first time for me being in the beach at that late hours. Add to it with Murali driving all the way to the beach and back . Though we had a few close calls, we've managed to get back. I was overjoyed when i made all the way to the beach myself with my bike. Makes it all the more interesting. May be crazy if you know the way I drive. But then there are times for celebration. I wont call that exhilaration but a celebration all the same. Had been waiting for a long time for another such monumental moment to fall on me.
The first step is always the most difficult for anyone. Ask a child what is more difficult? Its first tottering step or the sprint it later got acclimatised to. I have for long been contemplating on this idea of learning the Guitar. But procrastination had always been one of my strong points. The point of action must come at some point of time. The sooner the better. My best friend gave me one of the best lines i keep musing over in the recent past. "Dirty your hands if you want to learn something". Atlast, i've started to learn guitar and can now play quite a few songs with it upto my level and presently mastering the first 3 strings in the first octaves...
Went to beach last night. This was the first time for me being in the beach at that late hours. Add to it with Murali driving all the way to the beach and back . Though we had a few close calls, we've managed to get back. I was overjoyed when i made all the way to the beach myself with my bike. Makes it all the more interesting. May be crazy if you know the way I drive. But then there are times for celebration. I wont call that exhilaration but a celebration all the same. Had been waiting for a long time for another such monumental moment to fall on me.
Getting back to the beach again but now a different location. Its near the Thiruvanmiyur .. Paalavakkam to be precise.. a really nice place to hang-out. We both went there about 6pm. Though few drops sent tremors, we've managed with our will and Enjoyed some moments together surfing along the shore . As i went for a bash standing bare footed with my trousers up, my mind began reeling up and down bringing the memories of past, Krishnaiyyer my grandpa whom i've been loving since my childhood... and then it got shifted again to SSB memories and how i've missed it and the moments that i missed in life.. and lot other.. as i was about to broke out, murali called me for a brisk walk as the night began to fall.... obviously he can't hold without colors within his vicinity particularly in darkness...
It all started by his idea of building a sand cone.. soon with my intrusion it got converted into a castle... And off we started collecting dry sands nearby and went on creating a castle with 3 storeys and we digged off about50mm for the puddle beneath and we built the bridge and constructed the walls around nicely... with murali's fine artwork, we also managed to carve man-hides and an final outer circle which altogether comes around a radius of about 1.5 meter... and atlast we've got a flag too to hoist @ the top of our castle.... after all that with hopes of photographing it, i switched on my mobile and found i could only c darkness around.. but we never gave up as murali brought his vehicle after great trouble and switched on his light to give illumination to the darkness around our castle... nope.. it never turned on even a single pixel in my camera.. ( later i regreted not trying in night mode.. :-[ ).. Atlast we decided to giveup. The fate did not stopped until we had to test our strengths by pushing his vehicle o'er the sand of time....... atlast we were back on road to home after a nice dinner @ sangeetha, we came back home.. another hell of a night started with tunes of my Guitar....
Now all those friends who have lent me some very nice moments to enjoy in the past couple of years are now were nowhere in sight of me....
Pedestrial as it may seem, it is the dawning of a new era in the life of so many guys. Guys who always thought their future was bleak now have their own space to breath. This feeling comes to everyone at some point of their life time or the other. The feeling that you are not a no-good. you too got something in you. For me personally it dawned some five years ago. There sure would have been some who would have enjoyed that moment today or atleast within the past month.
Hoping to continue soon. C u guys.....
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