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A New Year Prayer

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Resolutions for 2006

res·o·lu·tion - A course of action determined or decided on

Few of many people have this habit of setting Resolutions for the upcoming year. Stop. Read definition of resolution again. They grow funny in a conversation, and even funnier in a group conversation.

It is good to have a resolution for the year. Whether or not you follow it, you can escape from silly questions like "Whats your resolution of the year ?"..... I've asked this many times, when a conversation is about to end.. makes it interesting. Pathetic part is the silly answer I get.

My friend said, that he would Quit smoking in 2005. And you know what would have happened. It is better not to have such resolutions. Im not saying we should not have a habitual-nature-changing resolutions.. but its better not to have a close-to-impossible targets. Have a sensible one. Like ?

I will learn Photoshop/Flash this year, and make my blog or Site look better.
I will pause 3 seconds before i respond
I should respond all emails promptly. Never miss anything. (This is mine for 2006. Does it look like a non-sense ? It means a lot, guys).
I should make people smile at whatever chances i may get. Make conversations lighter.
I should be bold to deny to people.

You could as well take resolution like "Project:Anti-Dandruff", and try and remove the dandruff from your hair (if any. Dont tell me you dont have that problem.. )

Please dont take resolutions like "I will try to be a nice Human Being"..thats too much of an ask out of yourself. Or that will be a little artificial, to yourself.

Alright , after choosing a sensible Resolution... define your efforts. Please dont plan for it. Just keep in mind the resolution always. You will definitely do it.

Just let me know your resolutions....

New Year Greeting on Photoshop Blog !!

Have a happy new year, folks !

Whats 2005 for me?

2005 was not as good as 2004. Read This... My 2004 Accomplishments.

This year began with recovery and has ended up with some good spirit - to me.

It didnt change my Job... (though it should have... remember the decision ?)... It didnt change my EMIs :) But It changed my mornings. Though I started my blog last year, 2005 was effectively when I did some sensible work (nenappu dhaan..).

It changed my mornings, because 2 AM to 8 AM broadband is free. Lots of downloads that keep my rest of the day happy.

2005 gave me very importantly, Good Friends.

Adengappa Prabhu, Srivatsan Murali, Prabu Karthik, Narayanan Venkittu, Sri. Narayanan, Iyengarkatz, Lazy, Chakra and Mukundan (and him mom and dad too). Without blogging, I wouldnt have got them...

I particularly enjoy conversations with Prabu Karthik and Mukundan. Yesterday, me and PK caught hold of each others shirt, and rolling over and fighting . It was a arguement/discussion /research on relationsips. It is serious pleasure to talk with PK. Very sensible :) .. Mukundan, gives an entirely new perspective, when I tell him that. You need to be blessed to be in this company. I enjoy it.

Work was pleasure in 2005. I learnt Assembler, and started working on it. Wow ! Its a real thrill to work on development projects in Assembler. Last few weeks of December was more than Hectic and fun. I was doing something like "Celebrate Work" (its the Tagline of CTS).

All the more, in every aspect.. 2005 was a no-problem, trouble free, painless, limited pleasured, Very Normal year, for me.

Cant let it happen in 2006.

Coming Up !! Top Ten 2005 (Idhu onnu dhaan koraichal).

Squidoo !

Squidoo is a very bad name to a very good service. :) Thanks to Mukund for referring.

This is one place , where you can make/post articles (Modules as they say) on topics that you are an Expert on. I wanted to post on Mainframes, but I wasnt that good to be an expert. So, droppped it off. Then I realized I wasnt an expert at anything. Damn.

I hate anything that exposes me to myself, in a otherwise way !

But yet i wanted to write something on the Squidoo, and came up with this Topic

"Ishta Mithra Bandhukkal". Meaning Desired Friends and Relatives.

Here's what I wrote there.

Of all the things that define a man, His relationships with fellow humans is what would attribute him the most. It is by all means, delicate to hold a relationship in equilibrium, and more than 90% of the people have their destiny afftected because of this.

The Title of this Lens - Ishta Mithra Bandhukkal is a common word you can find in any Tamil wedding invitation. "Ishta" - Desire. "Mithra" - Friend. "Bandhukkal" - Blood Relatives. So, it means Desired Friends and Blood relatives.

This lens considers the Friendship as a Relationship (I have seen people differentiate them). However they are a little different in the way they work.

Let us discuss and try and explore the possibility of having a relationship, with Quality.

Indian Relationships

That is all i know about, heh !

India, as I understand is viewed as an Icon for holding rich culture and heritage. Besides that, it is also popular for having Complex relationships, weaved into the skin and blood of every Indian. Complex because of Magnitude. Let us for time being, remove the Friendship from Relationship. Talk of Relatives and Blood relatives. Religion plays a major part in Relationships.

Blood relatives are those to whom we are related to, by birth. But Intimate relatives, are people who are lost a few decades ago. Or atleast thats what we think !

Will write more there. :) I want it made like a research ! Research of Relationships.

Our Boss is Younger than we thought

Rajini and Vivek...Who looks younger ? Thalai kalakkaraarppa !!

Shankarna summava ! Sivaji is rocking even before the start.

Mouna Anjali

Tsunami visited us last year, and took with it a lot of lives on its way back.

Last December 26th I was in Bed with a broken leg. Me and my mom were discussing how to evacuate, just in case if the water raced to Villiwakkam. I couldn't walk at that time(get out of the bed even), so I should be staring out of my window and accept the waters, and further.

This year, i was watching through a similar window, but in the Office. There's a Hyundai Service center next to my office. It seems to be a very huge office with more than hundreds of workers. 10 O Clock, they made an announcement. My friend listened to it and said that they are to perform a Silent Mourning for 15 minutes. And the entire workshop was silent for 15 minutes. They all mourned.

I came back from the window, and I looked at my office. Everyone busy with their own work. I thought I should take some initiative to make people do a similar Mouna Anjali for the Tsunami Victims. Then a question dawned upon me. Whats the whole use of Mourning in silence ? All of us geting up and being silent, looking laterally, when it will get over...

Is that simply an act to make us feel good ?

2006 Starts Next Week. Get ready !

How about Calendars for 2006 ? Yeah ! They have started flowing out.

Bad News. Diwali, Pongal, Vinayak Chathurthi and Ayudha Pooja all fall on weekends.
Here's something you can use. Microsoft Office's Calendar Templates for 2006

Landscape, Portrait and Landscape with space for Notes.

Getting ready for 2006 ? Your time starts next week. Good Luck !

New Photo on Photoshop Blog.

I adapted a new theme to the Blog, picking Minima White.

Happy Holidays !

All were in the room. Very Noisy. Few of them were discussing the answers for the Section A. Section A was very tough today. The entire school sounded too much. The neighbors knew why. The school will be empty for the next few days, and they may not like it. Just like people who live close to the railway lines, cannot sleep without the train sound.

Deepak was all happy, like all his friends were. Exam days are cool. no normal bags and Lunch carriers. Just a Pad and a Geometry Box. Todays Question paper carried high importance, as the empty portion will be used for noting down the Assignment for the holidays.

Class teacher came in.. Nobody stood up to wish.. they were all busy talking to friends. Few were still regretting for choosing wrong options in Section A. Linda Miss was able to accept the behaviour. She was also a little happy about the holidays. Only a small bunch of Kids answer sheets. Piece of cake, to correct them.

Deepaks mind was thinking much like others.

"No more 6 O Clock wake up alarms. No more studies. Lotsa TV. Lotsa games. Lotsa fun... Yay ! I will be a free bird.. am gonna enjoy these days.. " ... Few guys had planned the assignement at the end of the Holidays, a few guys wanted to end them tonight and take the rest of the days into their hands. Their minds showed the calender, and these Holiday days were painted Gold. The Contiguous days were like a dream gift.

Linda Miss surprisingly did not give huge assignements. It was very light. There was still time for the bell. So, Linda Miss was asking every student the plan for their vacation. As the general protocol, they all said the reply the first student.. "Nothing.. simply at home.. TV"... few geeks said "Iam going to read books". There was a rich guy, who was going to Srilanka to visit his uncle. That raised the eyebrows of a few middleclass students.

Bell.

Yaaaaaaahhheeyy !! Vuttaachu Leeeeavu !!

They had the excitement in mind. But they did not run. They walked out, and cycled further out.

Deepak woke up by 6 O Clock the next day. The day looked just normal.

Aththaribachchaa !

Google Zeitgest India for september is out , and I find this as top of te chart. The term - SureRoute

Looks like a software for deciding the path.. not my area. But why so many people searched for it, remains a Question. That too this one is topping Sania Mirza. Now you know how many people searched for SureRoute.

Hey, Got a look into this site, and their Cartoon pages are really good and clean. Check it out. The picture on the left is my personal fave. This came out when Amitabh fell sick :)

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The Aththaribachcha Story !! (Thanks to Aparna's Comment)

If you had not heard this story, when you were a kid.. you missed something. Atleast tell this to your kid. Our version of Bed-time stories.

There was this guy, who was really empowered with short-term memory loss (!). Once he visited his Sister's house. And his Sister was very happy to host him. She made him a lots of sweets and dishes. One such thing was Kozhukkattai. :)

Boy, he was delighted to eat it.. and he wanted more. Finally after a full-kattu, he asked his Sister the name of the item that he just had slaughtered. Sister said the magical name "Kozhukattai". Whaw ! He wanted to explain that to her wife and make her do it at home. But he had this memory problem, you know ! But there was no Polaroid Camera at those times to photograph it..(duh !) So, he thought he would recite the name all the way back to his home, and the first thing he would do, when he reaches home is shout "Kozhukkattai" to his wife, and make her do it.

So, our Gajini was on his way back home, after a very happy return from his Sister's. He was chanting "Kozhukattai.. Kozhukattai.. Kozhukattai.. Kozhukattai.." while he was walking. It looked like it would work this way. Then came a huge pit on the road, with dirt water. He had to jump over it to carry on with his journey. He took a step back... and ran forward and made a jump (Shankar would show this on a 360 degree camera with slow motion).... while jumping he yelled "ATHTHARIBACHCHA!!!" (An exclamatory word. Somebody add this on Wiki :)

Gone ! Now Kozhukattai was out of his memory and only Aththaribachcha remained. So, on his further walk, he was chanting "Aththaribachcha.. Aththaribachcha..Aththaribachcha..".

He then reached home and as expected, the first thing he told his wife was "Aththaribachcha..". his wife gave him a pale gaze, and asked him what he meant by that. He said that his sister had made him Aththaribachcha, and it was so very sweet and delicious. The wife got puzzled... she had never heard a dish like that, before. So, she grew wild on repeated hearing of Aththaribachcha. She said that she never knew how to do it, and would not make it.

Our guy got crazy, and with anger ignited - he started hitting the wife for not complying a husbands request. After some time the neighbour pops in, and is surprised to see swellings in the face of the wife.

"Ennadi Kannam ellam kozhukkattaiyaattam veengi irukku !!!".... On hearing this sentence, a 1000-watt bulb glows on the Husband's face. In Guna - Kamal style, he says "Adhaaan ! Adheeeedhan... Kozhukkattai.. Kozhukattai...". (read as "Abiraaami .. Abiraaami !!") He then explains his wife, that Kozhukattai was the dish that her sister had made, and that was what he was trying to explain her......

By the time, my Patti had ended this story, I would be sleeping.

[ps - we never know who invented this story, but it has come across ages, and spread by word of mouth.. amazgin aint it ?]

Life of Choices and Compromises

I was home alone a few days back, and had to find my food outside. I went to Palimar Restaurant, which I have been told was very popular for good food, when my Dad was a bachelor. I always hate eating alone. But when Im alone I have always wanted to try different food varieties. So, I was exploring the Menu Card wildly for a different item, and there were many.

But here is where my weakness overtook me. When Im given a lot of choices in Hotels, I simply go for a Dosai. And if I wanted to order differently I make a Masala Dosai. Thats it.

Break;

In my childhood days, I visit the Video Cassette rental with a lot of movies in mind. But when I get the Catalogue in hand, you should see me struggling. Then I come out with either a Lousy Pic or some other movie, I have already seen.

Choices are definitely tough to Handle (or should i say delicate).

Ironically, i feel, we make compromises when we have a lot of choices.

My friend is buying a Car. His dream car is Maruthi Swift. (Only very few people like it. Im one of them). Thats costing 4.7 L. But all he can afford is a Hyndai Santro which comes with all Accessories for 4.05L. It is wise to have Santro, but then compromising on a dream.

It is acceptable to compromise something for Rs. 65,000. But spending 4.05 and compromising on .65 ?

When it comes to the moment of truth, like the bearer asking you the Order, the Video Cassette guy asking you the movie name or deciding what car to buy, some of us act differently than what we have thought. Am still trying to figure out he name for this feeling.

Having something in mind, but ordering/deciding an entirely different thing. Though we can afford something thats in our mind, though it is perfectly ok to buy what is in our mind.. we take an alternative route. Thats sometimes because we want to play safe. This means we arent ready to take risks.

Im not talking about taking risk in the normal sense. Im talking about picking the choice of our desire, when multiple options are Exhibited in front of you. Do you go by your desire ? or you order Masala Dosai, like me ?

Color Color What Color Do you Choose

I Love Black. And you know its quite obvious from the template of this site. Even my PC-Avyukta is Black.







Red (3807) 15%
Green (3013) 12%
Gold (1212) 5%
Turquoise (Blue-Green) (1425) 5%
Blue (3849) 16%
Purple(or Lavender) (2809) 11%
Pink (2478) 10%
Black (1913) 7%
Orange (2156) 8%
Yellow (1383) 5%

Total Votes: 24045

The above is the survey on About.com about people liking colors. Im one of the 7% who voted. Blue is the most liked color. There are people who judge others by just the color they like (What do you think about me - I like black the most ??)





Black is a very mystic color. It suits any picture on its front. It would add beauty to the picture. So would plain white.. but Black is best.. eh ! But philosophically, only white defines Black best. Like the picture above.

So, whats your favourite color and Why ? If you like Black, then have a hug from me :)

My friend Manu never wears a shirt that doesnt have Blue in it. He has so many shades of Blue plain shirts. We all convinced him to buy a Green shirt.. but he got one Blue with Green striped shirt. Sila pera maathave mudiyadhu.

Here is a site that has just RED all over, but still be pleasing. Here.

BTW, did you look at the flash on the top :) I made it using SwishMax. Its a child's play there. But I couldnnt make it appear on IE (though it appeared on Firefox). Thanks to PK for resolving the issue. Tell me hhow it looks :)

Pudupettai - Music

I heard Pudhupettai with a lot of expectations. Yeah ! Yeah ! You know how these kind of sentences end. Obviously in disappointment.

What was the expectation ? "pudhupettai" is a movie about the Local guys behaving as if they are Dadas. Director Selvaraghavan has already said that the movie is atomic explanation to the purity in these guys (?). He has said about the movie in Aandnda Vikatan. I wasnt able to digest his points.

It may not look exactly like this. But it sounded to me like "He wouldnt care to Kill a person. But he wouldnt dare to lie. He s a honest man, and in their gang, Nambikkai Drogam / Betrayal is the highest crime."

Yuk !! Killing a man has been taken this simple.. ?
Whatever.... coming back to music.

With that kind of local story, why is a huge orchestra playing western Classical themes.... ???
I was hearing and thinking "What the heck...?" All songs (except two) are unconventional. And not worth listening again. (or may be, its early to say that).

Kamalhaasan has sung a song. "Neruppu Vaayinil Oramai Eriyum". His voice is mighty-flexible. And thats my pick of the album. Lyrics are note-worthy.

Idhu Azhiththal Velai !
Indha Ulagin Thevai !!
Adhai Naangal Seithaaal
Oor dhaan Vanagnumaa ?

Kaatril Kanigal Vizhugindra varaikkum
Kaathirukkadhe !! Kalladi kidaikkum !

I said note-worthy !! Not *good*.

There's another song - "Oru Naalil" - It has two versions. Both are *not* sung well. Music is good. Guys, stop thinking a casual voice can make good music. Is that Dhanush singing that song.. not sure !!

There is a song called "Selling Dope !". For that we have a Beautiful Orchestra playing some Mozart like number.. the music may be good.. im not good at judging these kind of music.. But for the theme mentioned, the music is ABATHTHATHIN UCHCHAM. But probably if Selvaraghavan had fused it with the movie well, it will be appreciated well.

"Padichcha Naye Kitte varadhey !!" - i dont know how this song is there fixed in the movie. But sounds awkward.

Few more Theme songs in the album... simply leave me uninterested.

"Over Scene Udambukku aagadhu !"


[BTW - Some other movie called Agaram has also released its audio. YSR there too. Not good either]

2 Blogs 2 good

Click the picture for a Bigger version. Trust me, you need to see this.

What a brilliant creation ?? How many hours it would have taken ?? Thanks to CreativeCriminal for posting it. His site is one thing i would frequent every week, and there will definitely be some print ad that fascinates my mind. Now Arvind has started posting video's too. Check them Out.

Also check this Maharajah !! He's got a few health tips, and they rock. Thankss to our Adengappa for the intro.

The Last Split Second

The Bullet was fired. He felt the pain all over the body. Should have been the lower stomach. He roared in some languageless word.

He was loosing his consiousness. He cannot react. He can see his blood showering his body. He has lived in blood all these years, but not seen his own.

Though he wasnt hit on the head, there was terrible pain in the back neck. He couldnt give anymore concentration to standing. He fell down, without logic, improperly. Slowly he began to feel more pain on the left lower part of the stomach. He could feel two bullets. The other bullet was fired, before the story began.

His mouth was wide open, but he couldnt shout. A clumsy yelling without the effort of the vocal cord. He was breathing with his mouth. Pain was increasing. Still and more. He pushed his hands in the stomach and massaged them, pressed the stomach so hard. He then rolled his body, pressing the stomach downwards. Pain.

He felt cold. His body was chilling. He was loosing it.. From down on the ground he could see only legs. A lot of them. Only those two legs got his eyes fixed. Those were his son's. Little legs with "Kee kee" shoes. The legs started walking only months before.

What will happen to him ? What will these guys do to him.. ? ouch. ! aaaarggh.. The bullets were killing him.. He should have tried to yell his son's name.. but he still couldnt speak a word.. he still was yelling mute.

The pain gained strength, and his body gave a shiver. I couldnt understand how he felt just at this point. Then his shiver ended.

His eyes still fixed on the "Kee kee" shoes. Its eyes still fixed on the "Kee kee" shoes.

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prabhuslt: and whats tat kee kee abt ?
Keerthivasan: nothing... justa story of a Cop or Rogue getting dead, his last split second.
who cannot speak 1 Muzham dialogues in their last breath
who cant say "Hey Ram" after being shot
prabhuslt: didnt get u yet ??

The Boss is Born - In style

I think Rajinikanth should be equally appreciated for Make up, as much as Kamalhaasan is. The Charisma that was felt yesterday with just three pictures of Sivaji, Wow !!

It might be easy to put a wig and dye the moush.... but then, the real youth in the eyes and the face... look at the Sivaji pic.. Rajini looks just like a 30+. Good make up - well done.

Aaj Tak - Clumsy Act

Tehelka's tape was appreciated because it was first of its Kind, in India. That was amusing, and gave away to an uprise. Mr. Lakshman was done for his lifetime. This should have trigerred a lot of Sting operations from then on.(Read this about Ethical Aspects of Tehelka)

And today we have Aaj Tak. Its sting operation has captured MPs getting bribes for raising Questions in the House of People - Lok Sabha. And that for Rs. 10,000. Trust me.. people are able to believe that the MPs got bribes. But they couldnt believe that they went down for just Rs. 10,000.

Every Single Indian knows that their MP is getting bribes. Every. Single. Indian. knows.

Why would Aaj Tak do it for then ? The Media is making stories, rather than collecting stories. It might look like the media is Stripping out the clumsy-acts of the society. But I think the Media is becoming "the Clumsy".

They feel the dire need of being in survival, and so they have to make some kinda conspiracy work for them and make the news and Hit the "Here-you-go.. Now Im hot-selling" bell.

I posted this on my blog before someone called a "Visitor" came over. Read it.

With media making the news, it could turn the society in its favour. Someday Aaj Tak or some news media will bribe some MP or MLA to Kill a Chief Minister and shoot that on video Tape.. and also cover the murder on video tape, and show it to the Public. "Chief Minister Murder : Only on our television" (Watch it live ?)

If i had some more money, I would sue the TV Media for first hand bribing the MPs. "Oh ! They did it just for fun ?? BULLSHIT".

Click for a bigger version. Tell me how you like it.. Picture taken from Here ( blog.franto.com a very impressive site) . Text added on Photoshop.



A Thing of Beauty is Joy forever. A thing of joy is beatiful for ever. (??? ada che.. oru korvayaa varamaatengudhu... do you get a better caption for this picture.. let me know).