Gurudatchanai !

I used to carry my school fees in my Geometry box, below that plastic holders of the compass and divider.

I joined my school with Rs. 30 as a monthly fees. And ended with somewhere around Rs. 650 per month. Now its way higher still.

Old people talk - "Education has become very expensive.. They have made Education, a business".

Well, thats debatable. Lets talk about that when we get old. For now, lets get the news from the picture shown. Three words. PSBB. Online payment. Wow.

This is a list of Online Bill payments from ICICI Bank. And who is the interesting name in the list ?

May be it was there since long, but only now I was looking into the Bill payment section of ICICI. Its a great feature for the parents (of PSBB). Neednt stand in the pathetic queue and neednt give their children and ask them to pay and sit and worry about it.

But tell me something. It doesnt feel satisfying when we realize we have paid something at the click of a button. It feels good to stand in the queue and get a dirty receipt. How do you feel about that ?

Guntrol Yourself guys !

What do you think ?

I think it is funny.. especially the last one.. chinnapullathanama...

Tamil Heroes think too much of themselves.. Chumma, every movie they pick up a weapon and give a nice still, as if they have a secret affair with the weapon. Aruvaa is another theme. I mean, look at Vijayakanth. What the hell is he doing with the gun on his forehead ? Thinking about "The enemy is in my mind.. Im going to kill him" ?

Im not too impressed, when some movie comes with a grand promo, with the hero doing some macho stuffs.. Just that its going to be damn funny. Im waiting to watch Perarasu. I want to know what Vijayakanth does with the gun.

BTW, You are welcome to give any caption to the Collage. I couldnt get the Aadhi still with Vijay pointing two guns in two different directions riing a bike. If someone has it, mail it to me.

Passwords make me Insecure

Wonder how it will be if every Blog that you visit has its own User ID/ Passwords, and you have to Log in everytime you want to view content. Every God Damn Good for Nothing site enables a User ID / Password mechanism. Why ? Just because they know how to code it. It is silly, when nothing really matters even if the User Logon is not in place. Why would an MP3 download site or a free Subscription of Dinamalar ePaper require logon IDs ?

Not just that. Workplace has nearly a Worksheet full of User IDs and funny passwords to remember. My previous workplace, I had nearly 24 user IDs at work, apart from my personal logons. Bank Passwords. Card PINs. eMail accounts. And Many Many More.

I've noticed a few people have a centralized Password Management. How ? They write down everything in a Excel Sheet and Password protect that one. In my opinion, thats not being wise.

Firefox helps me remember passwords, and i trust that at home. Most of the sites just keep coming without asking for a passwords, for Im so very sentimental.. that I click on "Remember Me" or "Please dont forget me, please !" button, everywhere I see. But these Mainframe Passwords and Bank passwords drive me crazy.

Banks have another torture in the name of additional security. Its called the Transaction password, and this password cannot be the same as your Logon password. I completely understand the purpose of this. Infact HSBC goes one step further, and gives its users a RSA SecurID, and thats a third level of security.

But beyond all the protection, the Memory Capability is what irks me. We are so very creative while choosing a password. We make it extremely complex or extermely simple, that we forget it very soon. Well, some people keep the same password everywhere. I once did that. But the moment I gave someone the password to check something on my email, I got insecure. So, I then re-passworded all my accounts with different passwords each, and had some memory capsules with one glass of water.

Thank god there is a "Forgot Password ?" link everywhere. Actually, I feel it says "You forgot your password again, you Amnesia M**** ? ". But the problem with Banks and other Very Secure units is that, it gets reset in a course of days and not immediately.

So, you type your password wrongly, and then wrong again.. and then one last time when you think it is correct, and still it is wrong ... You are done for the day. Forget your bank transaction on the net for one week. I know it is a security measure, and thats good. But it sucks out the purpose..

I'd suggest we pull the future sooner and faster. Thumbs. Programmers please start writing programs that verify identity through Thumb Prints. That should be a very good solution. No more funny passwords.

Mamma Mia !

You are looking at a product that makes you drop your jaws for various reasons.

DSLR with a 39 Mega pixel Sensor. Thats 5412x7212 pixels.

The Worlds First 48 mm Camera.

The feature that amuses me - waist-level viewfinder.

Its gonna cost 35,000. Not INR makkale, USD. You do the math.

Each picture occupies 110 MB on your Hard Disk !

Not much of features described anywhere on the net, but they all say it is the ultimate flexible camera ever.

Oh The name of the company is Hasselblad.. some name I've never heard of. Looks like theirs was the first camera that made it to the moon. Here's a Wiki on Hasselblad.

Need a Break !

Karaigal Thoonga Virumbinaalum Alaigal Viduvadhillai
Marangal Oyvai Virumbinaalum Kaatru Viduvadhillai !

Odi Odi Olindhabodhum, Vaazhkkai Viduvadhillai !! Viduvadhillai !

----

Programmer Oyvai Virumbinaalum, Velai Viduvadhillai !

-----------------------------------

Moganaangi !

கை நடுங்கி கண் மறைந்து காலம் வந்து சேரும்
காணாத தூக்கம் எல்லாம் தானாக சேரும் !

...
தானாக சேரும் !
...

காலமிது காலமிது கண்ணுறங்கு மகளே !

Pic Ctsy : Bollywood501

Click the Pic

Camera: Sony DSC-H5
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 37.8 mm
ISO Speed: 125

Suzhi

Keyboard Sathyanarayana

The Video above is taken in a concert by K. Sathyanarayana, a young chap who performed a wonderful Ballet Dance on a Korg Keyboard. I was photographing the event and thought I'd make a short video clip of the ending part of Vaathapi Ganapathim. Awesome music. Great job, Sathyanarayana.

This kid is 11 years old, and seems to be famous from his 9th age, for his this talent. He plays Carnatic songs on keyboard with extreme accuracy and poise. He makes carnatic music enjoyable, for even an illeterate guy like me. I havent known about him until yesterday, and after this concert, i went to this Website of his, and found great testimonials. Hmm..

In the video you see, you'd se four hands. Two hands that achieve, and two hands that support. The supporting hands is what was the talk of the day. His dad (i forgot to ask his name) was clearly instrumental in this success of Sathyanarayana.

Two things are important for a dad. One to support his son to chase his dream. And Two, make him dream good. Im sure this kid can grow to great heights. A lot of people spoke about Child Prodigy yesterday, and you all know that Im not very comfortable with that word (may be because i wasnt one, when I was a child).

But my advice to all these guys with Child Prodigy is that, Innovation without Insanity is the key. We've read about kids who do all that genius stuff at a very early stage, and get noted on Aananda Vikatan or Hindu. But, they dont really meet the prediction of the news article, when the future arrives. Why ?

Because, when these guys grow up, every one is capable of doing what was so great to the kid at his age. If the kid fails to groom up the talent and gets saturated at a particular level of fame, then growth stops there. That is why Innovation needs to get in. Note this. Note this. Mind you, Innovation without Insanity.

:) Sounds like my KRA... Im not able to do that, even at my age. Heck !

Guess the Song

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What song ? What movie.. ? Should be an easy guess !

I havent heard the song completely, because I dont like the lyrics. But I was forced to listen to this song that was playing in my company bus. This interlude was interesting. Came back home and wow ! It suited the 5.1 :)

Secularism

Camera: Sony DSC-H5
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 28.4 mm
ISO Speed: 320

Only on Marina.. You'll find all the Coke and Pepsi brands aligned on the same racks.

Otherwise, elsewhere,
you'd ask for Coke and the reply would be "Saar, Pepsi dhaan irukku ! paravaayillaya ?"
you'd ask for Fanta and the reply would be "Saar, Mirinda dhaan irukku ! kodukkattuma ?"
you'd ask for 7up and the reply would be "Saar, Sprite dhaan irukku ! rendum onnudhaan, odaikkava ?"

They arent exactly the equivalent drinks, but the shops equate them. Is there a match for Gold Spot ! :)

Oh yeah.. the pesticide flavours ! There's too much fuss about the 0.01 % pesticide inside these bottles. It went to the extent of Banning these drinks in many states. Thank heavens, Not Tamilnadu.

Are you a health concious "Oh no ! No carbonated drinks" guy ? Whats your take on states banning these drinks, when they permit alcohol !

Cho Chweet !

"Today is Mysorepa Day" says an Ad for Sri Krishna Sweets in The Hindu. Today, in their outlets, 1 KG Mysorepa would cost just Rs. 99, instead of Rs. 195. That certainly is a great deal. A lip-smacking deal, that is going to invite huge queues to the outlets.

But.

I guess we all got bored with the Mysorepa (even though I wouldnt mind an occasional bite). Relatives and Friends have, for each of their visit, bought home the Mysorepa. And when I used to buy the same, my friends or relatives would say.. "Idhellam romba bore adichu poyiduththu !". Though it sounded uncultured to comment like this, it was true.

Romba thigatti pochchu. Now the trend is slowly moving on to the Kaju Kathlis. I WILL NOT ACCEPT KAJU KATHLI AS A SWEET. Edho.. chumma oppukku vechchukkalaam. I know many of us dont like Over-sweet. I prefer sweets that are a little too sweet. All these Dry fruit items costing too-much and taste with a mild-sweet are huge hits. People buy them to show status. Wonder why people like those. We could eat chappathi-maavu for that. (Have you tasted Arisi Appala Maavu.. ?)

Jhangiri, Soanpapdi, Paalgova, Badhusha, Halwa, Rasagulla, Champakali - if these are called sweets, then you can call all the dry-fruit varieties as Kaaram. :p Talking of Soanpapdi, there are new varieties of Soanpapdi appearing in the shops. Horlicks Soanpapdi, Chocolate Soanpapdi and Banaras Soanpapdi. Full marks to Banaras Soanpapdi from Krishna sweets. Top Class.

Aavin Paalgova, Brijwasi Rasagullah, Agarwal Bhavan Halwa, Paarvathy Bhavan Jhangiri, Shri Mittai Badhusha.. aaha ! (உள்ளம்தான் கள்வெறி கொள்ளுதடி)

Dachchu - Thaathukudi Juse !

Camera: DSC-H5
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 21.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80

You should be blessed to be in the neighborhood of an active kid !

War of the Ad worlds

Whaaw ! now, thats what I call "Being Modest".

காலை எழுந்தவுடன் நல்ல திரைப்படம் (Today's movie - The Bicycle Thief )
பின்பு நல்ல Beat உள்ள Super பாடல் (Today's Song - Loose Control - Rang De Basanti)
மாலை முழுவதும் Travel (Today's Route, just like everyday - Old Mahabaliburam Road to Villiwakkam)
என பழக்கப்படுத்திக் கொள்ளு பாப்பா !

:)

Nother Quality Wallpaper - My Photos

This was taken from the Marina again. As I told you, whenever I go to the beach, I get some very good pictures. Click here for Full Size.

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 8.9 mm
ISO Speed: 125

POGO !

POGO is not anymore within the TV. It is in Dachu's hands. I guess the name is Tele Tubbies, and wonder how these names alone enter the kiddos mouth, when he still calls me keeythy !

I find these stuffed toys in a lot of homes, and a lot of kids are now citizens of the POGO kingdom. I never thought, when POGO entered, it would replace Cartoon Network. But clearly in CAS Chennai POGO is next only to the SUN TV mega serials.

Even adults are amused by Just for Laugh GAGS. Mr. Bean is invariably a favourite show among all ages. Although I dont watch all these, I get regular updates from every kid I meet.

I dont think Disney made a huge impact as expected. By the way, is Toon Disney a free channel ?

Character Slaves / Stranger than Fiction

I wrote this story way back, last year.

This Story.

And now, there's a movie very similar to this (of course an improved version !).

This movie.

Any chances that i can fight for Royalty, like the Dasavathaaram issue ? :P

KK - VV - HJ

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Post No. 700

pic ctsy - Hindu ePaper

I Agree with this. COMPLETELY. Morning is the time !

Creativity is one word I like to add as an attribute to my name, all the time. But unfortunately, Im not creative. I've struggled to become a creative person.

You cant become creative. You have to be creative.
Appdiya ?

Machchan Enge Da irukke !

Meeting point - The most time consuming place.

When people ask me to meet at some public place, I convince them to turn down that plan. Instead I offer a pick up at his home, and journey forward to the place together, rather than meeting at a place. Why ?

Thats because, I've wasted a lot of time waiting for others. I'm too very punctual, that I'm atleast 10 to 15 minutes earlier than the mentioned time. And then, the other person comes nearly 10 to 15 minutes later than the mentioned time. Thats close to half an hour wasted. Well, I have no use for 30 minutes of a day. But yet, it is a pain to move your neck around and look for people on the road, to identify our Late Man.

Especially Movies. When people dont turn up and you have their tickets, you turn restless. You almost walk like walking outside a Surgery hall. I've seen Cellphones in maximum use, only outside the theatres. Even terrible is Train Stations and Bus stops.

The photo on top, is another bad example of a meeting point. They are in the middle of the beach sand. They didnt have cell phones, and they were waiting for some more of their friends. Obviously, they couldnt meet and left the place after some 40 minutes. ( I was sitting close with my friends having a great chat ).

Sandhippoma ! Iruvarum Sandhippomaa ?
July Kaatril, Jupiteril iruvarum Sandhippoma !

Ketka nalladhaan irukku. But Wait panni paarunga, kashtam puriyum !

----- Photo Details -----
Camera : Sony DSC-H5
Exposure : 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture : f/3.2
Focal Length: 6.9 mm

Hmmmmmmmmmm ! aka Perumoochu !

Engirunthaalum Vaazhga !

Sorry, I cant comment anymore on that. I'm emotionally @$***@D up. I know many of us are. Lets join the Varuththapadadhor Vaalibar Sangam and start up with something.

Alright. The picture you see here, on the left, is from the Digital Version of the Hindu. Thats right. Looks like The Hindu is forced into this game, after Dinamalar and many other dailies started offering ePaper on the net.

It is free for the first three months and might require a payment after that period. You can register here, and access it here.

This is particularly of great interest to me, because the Advertisements can be archived from the ePaper version. I collect Print Ads that are interesting.

It is a small cultural change, that has already evolved. Home internet users, waking up and sitting in front of their Computers and read morning news, sipping a cup of hot filter coffee.

Unfortunately, reading today's ePapers - both Hindu and Dinamalar made me upset. You know why !

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !

Yesterday @ Marina Beach

ஊதி ஊதியே இளைத்தவன் !
சுவாசத்தையே மூலதனமாக்கி
வண்ணங்கள் விற்க்கும் இவன்
வாழ்வில் நிறங்கள் இன்னும் நுழையவில்லை !

வறுமையின் நிறம் சிவப்பென்று
யார் சொன்னது ?
காற்றாடிகள் முன் சுழல
பலூன்கள் பின் பறக்க
நடுவில் பெடல் மிதிக்கும்
பலூன்காரனைச் சுற்றித் தெரியும்
அனைத்து வண்ணங்களும்
வறுமையின் நிறங்களே !


Sony DSC H5 - Aperture - f/3.5 Exposure - 0.017(1/60) sec

Some photos on the Photoblog !

You've Got to See this !

Check this out

I'd like to see Bush's reaction to this compilation. There are a lot of such compilations on YouTube with a tag Dubya. Our Dubya - George Bush is adored and celebrated with so much glory, that I laughed out loud and woke up my sleeping dad. Not so many times you laugh loud on humour. Only good humour does that, and this makes George Bush a natural comedian.

Why couldnt we make some of these with our politicians ?

A Quality Wallpaper from Avyukta

I've felt most of the movies from 90's deserved a very good Wallpaper. So, here's a hunt for making some good wallpapers from those movies. To start with, Aandavar's classic - Kuruthippunal.

Which other movie had a classic Logo like this one ? Very few. Alaipayuthey is one. Any others ?

Appaada !

After Five days of continuous Activa rides on the Old Mahabalipuram Road, Saturday looks like heaven.

Ippadi oru pozhappu thevaya ?

Its taking time to get a Bus Pass for the Company pick-up and drop. Until then, I need to vroom with my Honda. It is an advantage on one hand, and a disadvantage on the other hand and the other two legs and even the whole body. Pain on the ***, you know ! Literally !

This is why, the blog isnt getting too much of updates,... and even the story is dangling. Ill complete it before the weekend.

You know what Im doing ? Playing a full-throttle AR Rahman, from Jeans

"Vaaram Aindhu Naal, Viyarvayil Uzhaikka..." :)

Bakki lyrics naane pottu paaditu irukken !

Fireworks - RKV

Fireworks like these used to be my wallpaper, way back in 1997. It used to be a fantasy, something that can never be seen in our country. I wanted to go to US, dip my feet into the water and watch July 4th ceremonies. Then one fine day, I saw it on a distant sky. Should have been Triplicane Sky (I was seeing from Villiwakkam !). Adn after that occassionally, I've been seeing such fireworks on some Temple Celebrations.

But since last year, this kinda fireworks is exhibitted in the sky above every home! Guess this firework has gone cheaper. My friend got one last year, for Rs. 5000. It displays spectacular fireworks for 30 minutes and after that you can start cleaning the ashes. Deepavali Over.

Since then, a lot of fireworks like these are seen. A lot of them, actually. And this Pillayar Chathurthi was another instance where almost all the Pillayars going to the sea, had someone ignite the sky.

Anybody know, how much this thing costs ?

Vande Matharam ! Celebrate ? or Not ?

கல்வி

சமயபுரம் போவதென்றால் எனக்கு கொள்ளை இன்பம். முழு ஆண்டுத் தேர்வு விடுமுறைகளில் மட்டும் போகக் கூடிய இடம். வேறு நாட்களில் அம்மா அல்லது அப்பா மட்டும் போய் வருவர். சில சமயம் ராமன் சித்தப்பா அங்கிருந்து வருவார். சித்தப்பா பெரும் செல்வந்தர். வரும்போது நிச்சயம் ஏதாவது விளையாட்டுப் பொருள் வாங்கி வருவார். கடைசியாக கயிற்றில் தொங்கவிட்டால் பறக்கும் பறவை பொம்மை வாங்கித் தந்தார். சித்தப்பா பொம்மை வாங்கும் போதெல்லாம் இரண்டாக வாங்குவார். ஒன்று எனக்கு. இன்னொன்று சாமிக்கு.

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நாளை தொடரும்/முடியும் !

Andra Mess Strategy

On the Old Mahabalipuram Road me and my friends went out to lunch in a nameless Andhra Mess. Fairly decent food considering the location. Me and my friends, each of them from each IT company located contiguously met at a point and searched for a eat-out place.

Lots and Lots of Andhra Mess were found. Why were all of them Andhra Mess ?

By default, any IT company here has more than a lot of people from Andhra. And most of these guys prefer to eat outside. This is not a guess. The proof is inside these messes. Full house. Gongura Packed (not jam-packed). You will find these places just outside CTS, TCS, Accenture/Wipro/Sathyam. These are not regular hotels. They are small houses converted into Messes. Naalu chair oru table potta hotel. Avvlodhaan.

But not all of htem are authentic Andhra messes. They just give it that name. It is all Tamilnadu taste. Sambhar Rasam and Poriyal arent as Kaaram as a Andhra mess has. Been to Supriya ? In T-Nagar, close to the Power house bus-stop. Thats one authentic Andhra mess.

What we went yesterday was a 2 bedroom house. We were in the Second bedroom having lunch ! Anyone with an idea of making easy money, can buy a small house and start cooking. No big deal. You will meet your ROI in months.

Approximately Rs. 30 per lunch. 30 is too much for it. It is worth the money, but it would cost very lesser inside the city. Aththuvaana Kaattukulle idhu kidaikkaradhe periya vishayam !

AD On !

This is a Johnson and Johnson Ad for the Digital Glucose level checker ! Can you read it ? Without trouble ?

Cool Ad !

Opening an Account was never this easier !

I was inside a room, very similar to the one that I was in three years back. A room full of strangers carrying mildly archive-smelling papers (aka certificates). Lotsa paperworks. I wish my address was something like "1600 Pensylvania Avenue". My biiiig home address made me feel bad. Every form had a comunication address and permanent address (places where I couldnt say "Same as above").

Certificate Verification / Forms verification / Relieving Order verification and so on. After that, three guys came in. Stancha (Thats how they pronounce Standard Charted !), HDFC and ICICI banks made a presentation on their products, and canvassed to capture our salaries into their banks. People inside that room, made varied choices, and in a matter of 20 minutes we all had our Debit Cards in our hands.

Instant Kits with Debit Cards , PIN for the bank , PIN for Netbanking , Cheque book and what not. Debit cards wont have your names embossed over it. We can do it at a later point of time (which in most cases would be Never).

I was given a Kit, and I struggled to open it. The Bank guy came to my assistance. I told him, "Opening an Account was much easier than this" (Again, any ad company using this tag line must pay me Royalty!).

They asked me to apply for a Credit Card and I told them I already had one from the same bank. They suggested me to convert that into the corporate account. Mine was alerady a HPCL card, and had most of the normal card benefit.

"Whats the benefit ? ", I asked him.

"Well, Sir.. When you show this credit card, you will be allowed into the Airport free of cost, No entry fee !".

Adappaavi makkka ! I came into this company to go into the Airport as a passenger. But this guy is giving me a Platform ticket, in the name of a Credit Card ! I associated it with Libi.

You guys know what a Libi is ?

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

- some JRR Tolkien

Image of the week is back after a break !

Categories and More

New Blogger Beta had been on the web-roads for sometime now, but I was a little reluctant to loose the existing template style of Avyukta. I had to compromise with a lot of Pixels to choose the new Template style. So, I waited for the Raw-HTML Edit feature to be on. And today I find the HTML editable. Here's Avyukta, back in the same template style with the new Blogger Beta template.

The only added advantage I find is being able to Add categories. But then, after writing this post, I should think about what Category I have to put this into ! Makes blogging more professional.

Yikes ! I dont like it that way !

Sathyam Vs The Universal Set

Sathyam is showing Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu on a special 7:30 Show (Also in Shantham). Doubtless, it was a full house, and mostly it housed Pattu Pudavais and Veshtis. People came wtih their families early in the morning to see Rape and Murder. Well, I'd been there to watch Kamalhaasan one more time, and to listen to the dialogues that did not make it to Abirami Speakers.

It isnt a good habit to compare between theatres. But who cares about habits.

Most of the background score and some minute-atomic-cute dialogues in the movie, never came out of Abirami Speakers. I had watched "Manjal Veyyil" song in Sathyam during the Audio Release function. It rocked the very minute. But after nearly 5 months watching it on Abirami proved disappointing. The song didnt have the effect, it had in Sathyam. The very moment, we decided to watch it again in Sathyam. And Janma Sabhalyam today !

The Second time didnt alter the first opinion, however. But Ravivarman and Harris Jayaraj showed up. There is a difference in Color. Subltle difference in Sound.

What is the point in having a technically superior movie run in ordinary theatres, when the effect which it means is not felt ? Why should The Sound Engineer and the Cameraman toil ? For screening on Sathyam alone ?

I wish the theatre owners put a part of the money they earn, back into the theatre.

Solitary !

Used to be my workplace !