A.R. Rahman wins OSCAR

"If you look deeply enough for a long time in a random set of numbers, you will find some odd pattern in subsets of number." - KRK

It has happened time and again.

Books like 'Freakonomics' , 'Outliers', 'Tipping point' , 'Fooled by randomness', 'Black Swan' etc mention about various events and successfully investigate how they are related. In some of the cases, its a straightforward link and in others its a bit extrapolated inference.

'Hindsight' is an exact science. Its foresight what most people lack.

Today I was again wondering what are the Chances that A.R. Rahman will be awarded the OSCAR.

Before the nominations were announced, I did not think he had any chance. Reason. He is a brilliant composer and many of his works are Top Award worthy. ARR has given better works than SM. But now that SM has made it through to the Top 5 I am sure it will WIN.

Why do I think So? Let me put my case based on a pattern I have seen oft repeated.

In 1992 I was amazed when a Indian, Madhu Sapre, was ranked the second runner up in the Miss Universe event.

I was pleased that some Indian Girl had made it in international beauty contest. There was a sense of pride.

In 1994 another set of Indians Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen won both Miss World and Miss Universe Title respectively.

Subsequently in 2000 again Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta won these events.

These two events really had no precedent in India.

But there was a pattern pickup by the Media and some Observant Mind. Too good to resist.

Conspiracy theories floated that India was a market for beauty products and that is why the contests were rigged to award Indian contestants.

Of course this might be far-fetched but once you hear the theory you tend to think.

Its a unique duel of the thoughts in the BRAIN where you want to accept only one version of the event and disregard the other but you cannot do so.

This has happened to me more than once but with experience I have realized Its better to keep a little Trust. I just accept one version of the fact. The other version lies dormant to be awakened one day just in case.

Just about a month back I read 'The White Tiger' by Arvind Adiga.

I did not like the book. It could have been better. But know what it has won the booker prize.

I did not read all the rest of the nominated books but I wonder why nobody this year has written anything better to appeal to the Judges.

So coming back to ARR Nomination following an Indian Winning the Booker Prize, I believe ARR is going to win the OSCAR this year. Of course the composition has won the BAFTA and Golden Globes already.

So Congratulations in Advance to you A.R.R. Sir and hope you have the After Win Speech ready.

Cheerio !!!

Thinking Patterns - Keep Improving

 

Quote: "If you always do, what you have always done, you will get, what you have always got."

Often when I find myself free and not focused on the task at hand, my thoughts go astray and end up jumping from one thought to another.

Today I ended up getting reminded about some patterns I had experienced/observed over years and decided to post it immediately.

We were schooled in a English Medium School, but most of the neighbours kids were brought up in vernacular medium. In my case "Marathi".

One of the very first Joke I heard was about this guy who knew only three words in English. 'Yes', 'No' and 'Thank You' without knowing their meaning.

Most of the episodes in this guy's life used to end up making us laugh with his adventures like :

This guy is travelling in a bus and the lady next to him asks in english "Have you seen my purse?". This guy replies 'Yes'.

'Then tell me where it is."

'No'

The lady slaps this guy.

'Thank You'

Cheeky. Kiddish. Isn't it !? It makes me giggle even today.

Anyway's when I grew up I had heard another joke about a guy having issues striking up conversation with girls. So he is trained to memorize a few Ice-breaking questions which supposedly will help him get going.

'Are you married?"

'No'

'Do you have any kids'

??????

or the other way

'Do you have any kids'

Yes

'Are you married?"

??????

You can imagine. Of course I know it is politically in-correct to ask strangers. But you can ask all my friends who know me, how many times I have asked this question to complete strangers.

But these two above joke's are one of the common thought pattern's or habit's which I had basically put me in JAM quite a few times.

Like if I am not focused in what I am doing consciously, I tend to repeat certain quotes or saying like those scenes in the Wedding Crashers.

Two of the episode's I distinctly remember are from my days in Engineering College. I used to frequent a Tea Shop with my roomies and have a cuppa tea or two. One of the MBA students whom I had recently got acquainted to mentioned

'Let me pay for the Tea this time. I consider it as a investment in our friendship'.

Wow!!! I thought. Good One I should use it.

The very next day I ended up using this quote with another new acquaintance of mine.

You should have seen the desperate look on this face. He went ballistic. 'Investment'. You consider my offer of friendship an 'Investment'. I no longer wish to speak with you.

I was like 'what is he so hurt about?'. Anyway's I was not mature or experience enough to handle that.

Another Episode was about an 'Example Story' I heard from the University Vice Chancellor or Dean. I liked the story so much that I kept repeating it at every opportunity.

End Result. The Story became diluted and the result's were disastrous. The same story that Inspired me and my peers to push the envelope and go beyond the definite, became monotonous and "aaarrrrrrrrrrggggghhhh" !!!

After many similar Thought Pattern 'Quote repeating' incidents I have realized, I need to be focused and self-aware of what I am doing.

Lesson for me. Be Self Conscious.

Learn to visualize how you are behaving. Resist from using same thought patterns. Introduce a little amount of disturbance. The results are going to be different. You can always correct your results later by changing the equation.

Be Self Aware. Always.

Adios !!!

Random Thoughts - Jan 2009

It has been a very freezing January 2009. Most of the days just getting to the car, swiping off the snow/frost from the windshield and starting the car itself required a lot of will power and courage. Whew !!!

Yesterday when I drove to SSVT Temple and Asian market I turned on the AC in the car. It was not a warm day, It was a bit hot.

What happened? Does the climate change based on changes in month? Maybe it does. But heck no, its back to being cold today.

We enjoyed watching NFL Super Bowl which Steelers won in the last minute touchdown, on a big 46" Sony HDTV at a friends house. It was a memorable evening.

One of the resolutions of new year has been to keep away surfing/playing with the phone when having lunch/dinner with company. I think I am in control of this thing.

Next resolution for me to add is to complete ironing all the washed clothes before the end of this month. Wish me good luck !!!

For the record, I complete 3 official years in the USA on 3rd Feb. That is nice. I had not imagined or come with any expectation, but it has far exceeded my whatever little hopes I had for USA.

I hope to continue blogging more frequently and post at least 10 write ups every month.

Here Wish me Good Luck !!! Again !!!

Be Good To Yourself !!!

Do Not Bite Nails

After the Snow Tubing trip yesterday my fingers froze even though I was wearing Ski Gloves.

Psychologically it is said that people who bite their nails lack self confidence.

It is more or less true and I believe in it.

It could also be a BAD habit. I mean a HABIT and I am one of those people who has this bad habit. Seriously.

I have learnt the hard way.. Never Bite Your Nails because in winter you increase your chances of getting a frost bite and by god it hurts. It hurts crazy.

Lesson for me. Do Not Bite Nails.

January 2009 Read/Watch/Learnt Update

 

Date	Name	Detail	Rating	Comment	Category	Status
Jan 2009	Superman. Warner Bros				DVD	Could Not Complete
	Vettaiyadu vilaiyadu	Directed by Gautham Menon	4.5		DVD
	The Terminator		3.5		DVD
	Shrek the third		4.0	Completes Shrek Series	DVD
	Finding Nemo		4.0		DVD
	The white tiger	Arvind Adiga	2.0	Really don't know why this book got booker.	Book
	The great depression ahead			Not that Interesting	Book	Could Not Complete
	Ocean's thirteen		4.5		DVD
	Ocean's twelve		3.0		DVD
	Crunch : why do I feel so squeezed?					For SD
	Foreign body	Robin Cook	3.0	Nice description of India.	Book
	Ocean's eleven		3.5		DVD
	Cars		3.5	Unexpectedly Liked it.	DVD
	Domestic affairs	Eileen Goudge			Book	For PV
	Cool Stuff 2.0 and how it works	Chris Woodford and Jon Wo	3.5	Airophonics/Hydrophonics/p in 1080p		Could Not Complete
	Cat o'nine tales	Jeffrey Archer	4.0	All stories were Great.	Audio Book	Had read the book in March 2007
	Dor	Nagesh Kukunoor	3.5	Good Story	DVD
	Mission Impossible		4.5	Awesome Stunts	DVD
	Four Wedding And A Funeral		2.0	Boring	DVD	Same team of Love Actually
	Nadie Conoce a Nadie		2.0	Spanish Movie recommended by Blockbuster.	DVD
	Traitor		3.5	Good Story	DVD
	Mission Impossible II		4.0		DVD
	Mission Impossible III		4.0		DVD
	National Treasure		4.0		DVD
	Kung Fu Panda		4.0		DVD
	Desperate Housewives Season 1 Disc 1 and 2		4.5		DVD	Very Impressive.
	Desperate Housewives Season 1 Disc 3 and 4		4.5		DVD	Very Impressive.
	Desperate Housewives Season 1 Disc 5 and 6		4.5		DVD	Very Impressive.

Star Wars experience

 

One of the most fascinating scenes cherised in my Memory is from Star Trek.

The view of the Stars, Universe and Galaxies in front of spacecraft as it flies through.

Wow !!! That is very exciting and awesome Image.

I was driving back from a visit to Pittsburgh temple and it was snowing. Late in the evening when the sky was dark all these snow shower re-created a similar view and experience and for a few moments I was flying my car in Intergalactic space.

Never Reveal Your Friends Email Id

 

'I never let schooling interfere my education' - Mark Twain

It was very smart of Mark Twain to mention that when he lived in the pre-internet era.

With new technologies being introduced to our daily lives every now and then it is important for each and every one of us to learn a few new tricks and follow age old wisdom principles.

The thing I am referring to is forwarding Email's.

I always get a few emails frequently which I would like to share with my near and dear ones.

But what bugs me is... with these forwards I get a list of all email ids it has been CC'ed to. What am I supposed to do with it? Nothing. But the thing that scares me is, my email id has been forwarded to one of those CC'ed addresses.

Sh*t.

We have to be very careful with the information we let out. Email ids reveal the names of people we are still interacting with. In the real world we would be careful/diplomatic when two people who scorn each other offline were invited to the same platform. Wisdom here says.. watch your words and interaction.

So whenever I forward, I ensure that I BCC the mail.

Why is that it is not the default feature for forwarded emails is what I fail to understand?

Anyways if you are reading this, please take care not to reveal your friends Email Id to the public domain.

India suffers from 'Ghajini' Memory

A friend called me up and discussed about how a team of people are going to pursue and keep a tab on the actions of promises by government to the people of India.

In brief, my friend said India suffers from 'Ghajini' Memory.

How true it is? Irony !

In the Movie the actor suffers from RETROGRADE AMNESIA and forgets what happens

There will be a SCAM which will come out in the Open. What happens then ? Every News Media, Every discussion is about it. After some time the there is another bigger news to flaunt and the original issue is forgotten.

Corruption is still an unresolved issue. Taking bribes and giving bribes is the norm in the country in fact which unites us all.

I am always skeptical of new things and new approaches to resolve age old problems. Anyway's even I suffer from Selective Amnesia and sometimes believe the whole world does. Talk about being skeptical. Whew !!!

Filling Petrol in a Petrol Pump

 

I used to ride a bike (TVS Centra/Scooter)  in India. For refilling petrol just had to ride to a petrol pump.In Hyderabad, it always used to be a long wait most of the time. The assistants at the pump used to fill the tank as per  instructions and collect the money/card.

Here in the US of A its a different proposition altogether.

First of all I drive a Car. Petrol pump is known as a “GAS station” short form for Gasoline.

Now when you visit a “GAS Station” you are supposed to fill the “GAS” into your car yourself. Initially its a bit different but later on it becomes second nature and you can top your tank within a couple of minutes.

And that is the time while you are waiting for your tank to be re-filled you clean the windshield of your car and the rear wind shield. You wipe off the dust and make it sparking clean with water and hand held wiper which helps in giving you a clear visibility while driving.

I believe you can imagine filling GAS/Petrol by yourself is no big deal.

Right ?

Yes. You are if its a normal day.

In winters, Just Imagine waking up to freezing cold below 8 deg Celsius in the morning on your drive to work you doing that.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…. !!!! Ooooooooooo  !!!! Cold !!! Very Cold !!!

On top of it you want to clean your windshield and guess what………. yes the water outside is frozen ice and you can clean your windshield with that.

That is what happened today. Anticlimax.

Engineering College Episode

 

In October 1993, I got admission in Electronic Stream at Engineering College in Jalgaon Maharashtra. I had not heard about North Maharashtra University which had offshoot from Pune University. But I took to the college studies and extra curricular activities like duck to water.

Of the many anecdotes, adventures and incidents which transpired, one thing I recall is how every student is college used to get alerted when the College Co-Founder and Chair-women used to visit for a surprise tour of the facility almost every other month.

That used to be the day when everybody in Campus was attentive and alert. Every one and I mean everyone including the principals and lecturers and students.

During this visit, Majestic lady, whom we students used to address as ‘TAEE’ (meaning elder sister) used to walk with her troops and used to command attention of one and all.

She used to warmly respond to the greetings of students and enquire about various activities and proceedings. I vaguely recollect crossing her path on a couple of occasions and greeting her.

After 12 years since I left engineering college I never even thought about what had happened to her.

But yesterday during a conversation with a long lost friend I understood that she is now the President Of India.

Her resume for your information : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pratibha_Patils_Resume/articleshow/2218456.cms

Wow !!! I spoke to the President of India more than Once !!! Ha !!!