tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112100282024-03-07T00:39:21.986-08:00Beyond the realms of daily existenceSearching an infinite Where, Probing a bottomless When,
Dreamfully wandering, Ceaselessly pondering,
What is the Wherefore of men?Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-7832385393405264672012-03-03T19:10:00.006-08:002012-03-03T19:54:17.422-08:00My favorite music albums*Not including best-of and compilations<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">1. The Division Bell - Pink Floyd</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">2. Somewhere in Time - Iron Maiden</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">3. Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">4. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">5. </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Brave New World - Iron Maiden</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">6. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">No Need to Argue - The Cranberries</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">7. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Black - Metallica</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">8. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Viva la Vida - Coldplay</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">9. Seventh Son of the Seventh son - Iron Maiden</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">10. And Justice for All - Metallica</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">11. Nine Lives - Aerosmith</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">12. Born in 58 - Bruce Dickinson </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">13. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Toxicity - System Of A Down</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">14. Rosenrot - Rammstein</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><div>15. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Weathered - Creed</span></div><div>16. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Acoustica - Scorpions</span></div></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">17. Appetite for Destruction - Guns and Roses</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">18. Destination Anywhere - Bon Jovi</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">19. <span style="font-size: 100%; ">Back to Black - Amy Winehouse</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">20. Painkiller - Judas Priest</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; "><b><i>Just missed the list</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; "><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><div>The Doors - The Doors</div><div>The Cross of Changes - Enigma</div></div><div>Ride the Lightning - Metallica </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Countdown to Extinction - Megadeth</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">All That You Can't Leave Behind - U2</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Only by the Night - Kings of Leon</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Nevermind - Nirvana</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">The Suburbs - Arcade Fire </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Audioslave - Audioslave</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">So hard to put a list this, I am sure I am missing many others. Would love see something similar from everyone.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-73958368152184251682011-06-23T21:30:00.000-07:002011-06-26T04:17:14.750-07:00Rise and Fall<div align="justify">Recent trip to the US brought back some great memories. As I flew across the country meeting old friends, it reminded me of America’s massive size and power. Undoubtedly it is the capitalistic centre of the world. It was also equally clear in my two weeks in the country that it is a crossroad. Nothing proves this more than the never-ending discussions of the current political, financial and social problems on streets, bars, airports and these have more than ample coverage on media. </div><br /><div align="justify">I have always been quite impressed and influenced by the philosophy and vision of America’s founding fathers. The country has prospered on principles of democracy, representation and individual liberty. This has manifested in the form of personal right of ownership of property that eventually led to a personal consumption culture that has made US the powerhouse it is today. But for the first time in centuries its future is uncertain. </div><br /><div align="justify">Throughout history many strong and massive civilisations and culture have risen and collapsed. If you look back at the Greek, the Roman, Indian, Chinese ancient civilisations or more recently colonial Britain and Russia their downfall has not been brought about but one massive blow but slow accumulation of somewhat anticipated problems. Decline came about gradually due to an inability to adapt to changing environment and conditions in the world. </div><br /><div align="justify">At first you might think I am alluding to current financial problems but I am not. Of course that is one significant problem but nothing compared to similar challenges faced by Europe. Europe’s own sovereign debt problems are contributing to its demise as a leader in the world. US on this dimension at least is much safer. With Debt/GDP ratio of around 80% it is still lot lesser than troubled European countries with over 100% and Japan with close to 200%. Also, USA has fairly efficient institutions, tax gathering mechanisms and low corruption which are certainly not the case in Greece. While financial position is a risk, I anticipate things will improve as economic cycle reverses. </div><br /><div align="justify">USA’s long term problem and possible reason for demise is still going to be Oil. Why? Well, like almost all countries in the world, USA is heavily dependent on Oil. But there is one major structural difference. A majority of Americans live in suburbs designed around universal personal automobile use. This culture has had a huge contribution to America’s success as it encourages both home and car ownership. Home ownership in turn facilitates ownership of many other personal consumables. In addition to the suburban lifestyle which is heavily dependent on personal transport, about 90% of overall US transportation is reliant on Oil. As oil prices increase substantially it would become unsustainable for many. Even those who could afford it would be spending a higher portion of their income on ‘gas’ which would mean lesser disposable income to spend on other goods. Personal consumption accounts for 70% of US GDP. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">But as Oil price rise wouldn’t that change behaviour and bring down demand? Ideally it should but unlike other countries people don’t have many transport options in US. Europe and Japan has a massive rail and metro system which is connected to the grid and can work of alternative energy sources. China, India and Brazil are making heavy investment in similar mass transit systems. Typically, these mass transit systems take about 20-30 years to fully develop. Even for 1st phase or line of a Metro system you are talking about 5-7 year development period post financial approvals. The rate of growing oil demand is not going to be offset enough by these initiatives but it does provide consumer an alternate mode of transport. However, in most parts of US that alternate does not exist. </div><br /><div align="justify">This could be very significant and challenging problem if investments are not made now. By every account and given the financial difficulties, US is not planning any major investments in transport infrastructure in the near term. Most economic projection indicate that US would still be the 2nd or 3rd largest economy in the next 50 years but this rests on an assumption of continued 2- 3% growth rate. This could be severely tested if oil price rise predictions come true. There are many ifs and buts in this argument but ‘if’ this was true it’s not something that could be addressed overnight. It requires foresight and planning. Many a country have failed for the similar reasons, is US going to be next? </div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-20401277800800367672011-04-09T23:32:00.001-07:002011-04-10T00:54:27.139-07:00Its time, or is it?<div style="text-align: justify;">In some ways, time is such an easy concept. You ask someone what time it is and they know exactly what you are referring to. They answer and thats exactly the answer you were looking for, no miscommunication, perfect understanding. And yet if you dig a little deeper there is another question which is quite disturbing. What is time? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We define time an a measure to sequence events and capture interval between events. It defines temporal position of events and its continual movement. So far so good. However, if we use this to answer some other questions for e.g. beginning on the universe and what was before that? when did time start, how can time start? Our logic and definition does fall apart and these questions become unanswerable. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what is the problem here? Answers in my view lie in how we define time. Lets look at something we consider similar to time. Our three spatial dimensions. I am looking up into my room, what do i see? Do i see height, width, depth? No, I see space?. The three dimensions in reality is just our interpretation of space. This phenomenon known as "Transcendent Ideality" was introduced by Kant where he stated that any form of appearances e.g. space and time are ordered in certain relations i.e. any interpretation is combination of sensation (input to senses) and cognition (thought) rather than something that exists independent of mind. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kant's explanation only answer part of the question, i.e. how we interpret things. But the question of what time and space really are was answered quite convincingly much earlier. That was by Leibniz in late 17th century when he said that space or time don't exist in reality but are merely something we use to define relation of objects. There is no absolute location of space or time but only relative to a location or event. We sometimes confuse the convenience of space or time with actual reality i.e. we think space and time actually exist. I find that not only is this completely logical but also helps answer some more difficult questions on other philosophical topics. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While this may seem quite basic and logical we quite often forget it. Otherwise we would structure our "Time travel" , "Beginning of the Universe" and "God & time" debates quite differently. </div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-49223222425119359612011-03-18T16:30:00.000-07:002011-03-18T17:15:38.018-07:00Romanticism<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">Recently I got into a conversation about the most "Romantic" works of art and people immediately quote works form the Romantic period. Romantic period in my view was lot more about the ideas, and imagery to depict the emotions that go with them. It was after all a time for change and new ideas. But I doubt if the most Romantic paintings came form that time. Firstly, the answer depends </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">on what the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">concept of "Romantic" work is. To me it is as muc</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">h to do with myst</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">ery and contemplation as it is to do with ideas and idealism. Works during the romantic period were too defined, not leaving enough to imagination. Having said that I think the most "Romantic" piece of art, ever, comes from that period which is</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >"Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" - Caspar Friedrich</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is in Kunsthalle museum in Hamburg and you can stare at this forever!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8yrdoQ6RhDtW6KYUK-EbB8RwtGGIZdfLS4fCcs5B8eQFFOR_Q43raqMdeMOMCEH9V5duuqaGDAbnB2uxGsuYIV1VyQl0UviKIJX3cQdhHBw6sy5PhqCEBzOO7Awya-LQDQ/s400/the-wanderer-above-the-sea-of-fog-caspar-david-friedrich.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585575989280091314" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >However, for me impressionist age is perhaps the most "Roman</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">tic" period. There is mystique and complexity in the works that make it more appealing to me. See a few works below and decide for yourself</span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Other works from Romantic period</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Liberty leading the people - Eugène Delacroi</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >x</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >More typical work from the period</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dR05_b66O_OCUFVGCE7Bc4qHi9xWSpLUtgmRdAWO3gHkf6NQapqd1FvDgb5nx6c9hHp2hQvwe_K2_TyxctdV8xsNuhhpYDz18SqJFY2pZGNH3-PCw18Yu6K3XH1FsQ7sXw/s400/liberty.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585575982370601490" /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up - JMW turner</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Not so typical work of the period</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunTtIxAty7mWBk4g1vZ5DqYYdszCEJxPiM5Llgf_F-p6k1irRq3FNS26kEPuac9-8n3YuEqmO7X2qlVk5gt5s6EjxQqkBl4oHBF4F2O6MMoNEFAGp2JQyis9DJ2vu2rzYZQ/s400/Turner_Joseph_Mallord_William-The_Fighting_Temeraire_tugged_to_her_last_Berth_to_be_broken_up-1839.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585575985083040962" /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Works from Impressionist era</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Cliffs at Etretat - Claude Monet</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtQ0E_Nwy69SCVx1LIvxssTDsg3fllHqMu5SnZmr3w_2VITRLCQ_0dZzJSgtNnuo0o2UbIe43azt6PzGETecIwxN6SGsDM21kGv9LicKRWMEf7j1xYC_4DEatN7dLC_C75A/s400/750px-Claude_Monet_The_Cliffs_at_Etretat.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585574703857258130" /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Woman with a Parasol - Claude Monet</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5GveRSqe4OHjFxdwY4Isd8X2U0iAnXsJtq5kjEhyFtyUCXQHYldb48HFphGju4tuKeUUpvshJzVybJMci6-bk6cUm4zM7YolFgzMvViF4eTGzfnGJGeMg589pXIkDHEJjw/s400/lapromenadebyclaudemonet.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585574703750189074" /></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b>Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette - Renoir</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxK1UJfcOhLxLT5cmcZMwbvIs2igcA-oXxVVG0Z04FyncFb-wVJRM4Q_jPGxb4rJSC0lp3dAyerKgti5s0I-5OA1ThegJRY5koOaqfLWFn2a1qLIics5ewoP3yEiNbK3Dwg/s400/renoir.moulin-galette.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585574701534278450" /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b>Starry nights - Van Gogh</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSe3gtzPPdO-f3ulkMIH4Z3jSoj6CTH_cW_kqjzaoihMB5TPMFyTkmV-G_iEJasuFZfIde7Ezm5V6i8XDJ8T4rXhBJm-DFy86PTyvegrK3qVfhvGwLk35HUvDqpbzFHphfA/s400/800px-Starry_Night_Over_the_Rhone.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585574695549586386" /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b>View of the Saint-Martin Canal - Alfred Sisley</b></span></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32VF0zoe0ilb7WkreUCzY7KADAgwtaGuMiSUSqOTaUc_SAsXeqcobkhV5rWEp-3Pl6xpTE_LLb43m9elNHQdrL1tz2ehS2oNBliHZwtZuolVpPHaL91wumrEeIlrVmgxcTw/s400/View%252Bof%252Bthe%252BSaint-Martin%252Bcanal%252Bin%252BParis-1600x1200-22377.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585573570772778482" /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-21920976397754841312010-09-27T17:09:00.000-07:002010-09-29T17:41:01.627-07:00Commonwealth games - Failed before the exam!Commonwealth games, it’s the hot topic these days in most commonwealth countries and is even making headlines elsewhere. Criticisms and controversies have been endless and it seems like games are doomed even before they begin. Even if they games go ahead and are successful, they are likely to be remembered for all that negativity during the lead up than for any sporting prowess. A friend encourage me to put my views on the same so here they are.<br /><br />Saying that the infrastructure and preparation for the games was laggard is being too kind. The games federation gets 6 years to prepare the entire infrastructure and apparently they did nothing for the first three! Given that, infrastructure is somewhat ready is still a miracle. Despite all the criticism the fact is that the infrastructure for these games, at least on paper is far better than anything offered in any previous games. The questions are - is it ready? Is up to the quality promised? Answer to both questions in my mind is negative. The venues are not ready but I’d like to believe that they will be by the times games start. The quality of the stadiums should be up to standard but the village probably will never be. How a room can be as filthy as shown in leaked pictures is beyond my imagination. All things considered it is very unlikely that the CGF would have been planning to hand over the rooms in that condition. The other side of the coin is that that negative news always makes headlines in most of western countries and the statement on Australian and other team officials on their satisfaction with the facilities were conveniently left out. If you look at most Australian dailies 95% of news about India is negative. Surely India can’t be doing that many things wrong!!? There is lies the story. But who can blame the media, it only reflects what people what to hear and read.<br /><br />On the important question of security; No one wants to risk lives for sports and I personally support this position. In all the travel advice and warnings on the threat of terrorism in India some things have been conveniently left out. Fact is India has faced terrorism for the past two decades and there have been numerous terrorist attacks in most major cities. However, I can’t remember security being compromised in any major international event. There was an incident during IPL last year but the even the outer perimeter wasn’t breached. Most attacks have been in unsecured vulnerable areas and given the nature of terrorism it’s impossible to guarantee safety and prevention from those. Threat of these attacks does seem larger in India but to the games, I can’t see why it would be different than in any other country.<br /><br />But what about the hard hitting report by Australian journalist Mike Duffy and on complete inability of security from stopping him walk into Commonwealth games venue with a bomb! Many international athletes scared by the lax security started to pull out of the games! Delhi police immediately issued a response and explanation of why the report was false and what was wrong with the fabricated story. Of course no one in any western country bought any of it. As per the prevalent view Indian cops are corrupt and incompetent and they would rather trust a western media report than the Delhi police. But would you believe if you heard it from the west? CNN reported Parikshit Luthra exposed flaws in the story and ABC media watch did a complete story on unethical reporting and fabrication of the story. Don’t’ believe me? Here it is for you to watch<br /><br /><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3023099.htm">http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3023099.htm</a><br /><br />Getting back to the games, Can India host a successful commonwealth games? We surely can! Did we drop the ball on the lead up? Yes we did. Again, no matter how good the preparations might have been or how flawlessly the games could be executed, some countries would be looking to beat India down. They always do. All the more reason for everyone concerned to be on top of their game and get this done properly. Instead this exposed corruption and bureaucracy that India is all too well known for. All is not lost, at least India is a humble country and for all it failings will look inwards and in its own slow yet humble pace, change. West on the other hand continues to blow its trumpet and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. For them obviously all the problems lie elsewhere!<br /><br />Have I been objective in writing this post? Definitely not, no one has been, why should I start? At least I don’t claim to be a journalist!<br /><br />PS: Added 30/09/2010<br />All is not bad!<br /><br />http://cwg.ndtv.com/commonwealth/photodetail/page/1/id/8254/The-CWG-pics-no-one-showed-you.html<br /><br />http://cwg.ndtv.com/commonwealth/article/id/spoen20100154836/type/latest/Delhi-has-world-class-facilities-British-hletes-55817.html<br /><br />http://cwg.ndtv.com/commonwealth/article/id/spoen20100154640/type/latest/Australia-praises-hletes-village-55346.htmlAnandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-79703605875348544472010-08-20T15:46:00.000-07:002010-08-20T15:58:58.873-07:00History of the world economy<div style="text-align: left;">Some who are convinced of the infallibility of countries and regions never believe when I mention economic history of the world, its cyclic nature and winners and losers of the past. So when I came across this, I thought I'd post it for anyone who needs convincing. I think the important lesson is "every dog has its day". Important to be humble when you are successful. Someone will beat you, its only a question of time.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3gOJt4Mj41lZL1NH3DYVoTiOHHkuc3mXyQVCguFagKIf6BdS42JQ0z1e3b6nIJQJGizHixfrxA9zl9hvTevRQq2leHDmjHkDuqEai5Jd4k9Ifz7UWrx5DJIEInP1wUSmrQ/s400/china-gdp-ii_2.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507629390318988082" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogY4zyRTl9Z-8xhROMyiXPX9RunqqPFcUJiwMt2m1YBzCBMpIRGJVjxTaNepEeHUYBO-kna0shRnBqLAoOxHjnNZ1TtESw7vv3iav7_8oNDJdVqOHsI7u0UdxUOqKLFbDpQ/s400/percent-world-gdp-1500.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507629399069067538" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-40433385460492849922010-06-06T05:51:00.000-07:002010-06-06T06:00:06.076-07:00Philosophy of happiness<div align="justify">What is happiness? Should the purpose of my life just be to maximise happiness? Why and how? These are just some of the questions that I have been trying to answer these past few years and in my pursuit realised that this has been topic of discussion for thousands of years.<br /><br />Recently, I signed on to <a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-Philosophers-Corner/calendar/13458913/">attend a talk and discussion</a> on the “Philosophy of happiness” organised by the local philosophy circle.<br /><br />Prior to that someone forwarded me links to this interesting debate “Is the pursuit of happiness making us miserable” Interesting question indeed! Modern life seems all about acquiring and achieving things whether it is money, goods, materialistic things or achievements and records, or for that matter, intellectual pursuits. We set goals try to achieve those and getting there makes us happy, but then we need new goals and new pursuits which is and endless cycle.<br /><br />I loved this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTLW-3Z_Kts">5 minute speech by Petrea king </a>on the subject which addresses this.<br />However, the <a href="http://fora.tv/2010/03/09/Is_the_Pursuit_of_Happiness_Making_Us_Miserable#chapter_10">counter by the advertising guy </a>was equally impressive. </div><div align="justify"><br />Buddhism and Hinduism try to addresses the matter by saying we must try to escape this endless pursuit. Happiness comes from escaping craving in every form. While I believe there this to be true I am not satisfied by the explanation that leaving everything is the answer. Seems a little escapist!<br /><br />Anyway, the lecture was quite interesting and covered all the different views given by major philosophers from Socrates, Plato, Aquinas, Nietzsche, Sartre and others and psychologist such as Maslow etc. Many theories, but no answers!<br /><br />If you really want to understand the basic tenants and philosophers who directly tried to address the topic, view this 6 part documentary <a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/philosophy-guide-to-happiness/">"Philosophers guide to Happiness"</a><br /><br />However, in the 20th century happiness is a topic for economist, psychologist, neuro-physiologist, biologist and one can deal with it in pure philosophy alone.<br /><br />My favourite basic theory on happiness is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow">Abraham Maslow “Hierarchy of needs” </a>where he describes that we have certain needs at various levels that need to be met for us to be happy for e.g. if our food and security needs are not met its hard to be happy but if they are met its not sufficient, we then need to satisfy higher needs such as social recognition and self actualisation.<br /><br />However, one can easily see that is modern context they may not hold as true, so it is yet another incomplete theory.<br /><br />I have laid out a lot of material and theories out here but no concrete answers. I don’t believe there is one and even if there was one I am in no illusion that it can be represented in a blog post.<br /><br />In any case, this is my view. Happiness is a state of mind. Obviously, happiness is felt through secretion of certain chemicals in the brain that can be intrinsically or extrinsically induced. Different external accomplishments can bring us happiness, as well as out own personal thoughts or for e.g. just saying “I feel good”. In my view the current western thought regarding pursuing happiness is incorrect. If happiness is a state and relative state, then its pursuit cannot bring a higher state of happiness. For e.g. if you thought achieving X will make you happy, achievement of that goal recalibrates you to a new steady state that might require achievement Y to bring you to higher state. That’s why use of drugs for happiness also doesn’t work as users often fall into depression.<br /><br />Interesting question was raised in the discussion post the lecture about introspection on happiness. One could be “happy” or “sad” or in any state but you realise that only when you think about it. And once you begin to introspect that may change the state of your happiness. This brings into connection the Heisenberg’s theory of uncertainty but we will not go into that complexity here.<br /><br />So maybe happiness lies in that fact the one needs to acknowledge its relativity and either choose to minimise its variance or live as once please for it’s high and low moments. Make your choices for you will never raise your overall state of happiness extrinsically. You can do it intrinsically by concluding that you are happy as is!<br /><br />Anyway, it’s hard to address this issue in depth but I will leave you with a question. </div><div align="justify"><strong>If you had choice to take a pill that will ensure, with no side effects, that you will stay completely happy for the rest of your life, will you take it?</strong><br /><br /><em>What makes you doubt? Isn’t that what you always wanted?</em> </div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-18350538577253377732010-05-01T21:24:00.000-07:002010-05-01T21:37:56.002-07:00Underwater<div style="text-align: justify;">"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>" I signalled to dive instructed making circle with thumb and index finger and leaving the other fingers straight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Jump into the water" called my Dive instructor, Lucy. She was Brit though had been in Australia for a while now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was quite nervous, wearing about 8 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">kgs</span> in weight and huge and heavy oxygen tank on my back I couldn't see how I would float. Surely the little air we let into my vest wasn't going to be enough. I jumped in and to my surprise I did float. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ok</span>"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Lets swim to the mooring line"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Four of us and the dive instructor headed to the mooring line. I was going to be the first one to go down. Lucy took air out of my vest and signalled to my mask. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ok</span>" I replied. Then to my ears "Equalise air pressure". I held my nose and blew "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ok</span>". Final check, take out the regulator and breathed out "bubble.. bubble...bubble....". Back in "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ok</span>" I signalled.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am couple of metres down when the dive instructor leaves me to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">get</span> the others. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Somethings</span> wrong, 2 people have already panicked and want to abandon. Meanwhile I am underwater alone and getting quite anxious. I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">breathing</span> heavily and the dry air from the tank still makes me feel like choking. My mask is not right, its filling with water. I look up and blow in attempt to clear it but instead it fills with more water. Shit!! I can't go up my vest is without air, I need the dive instructor to come down. I breath faster and faster as time goes by. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally Lucy is back, I signal to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">her</span> that something is wrong, its my mask. She asks me to clear it, but that doesn't work. Now I am frantically signalling her to take me up, 3 breaths a second heart rate close to 180 or so. She fills my vest and we finally go up. Within 5 minutes my dive is over, I abandon head back to the boat. That was scary, it was my first dive!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An hour later next dive session I vow to try again. This time I won't panic, I tell myself. We dived again on the mooring line. I try to relax and think about the reef and fish. We dived to about 10 metres and it was fantastic. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Unbelievable</span> number and variety of flora and fauna of all colors imaginable. It was a totally different world, one I had never seen before. I touch and hold of couple of things that the dive master <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">oked</span>. Even gave out couple of "wicked' signals that she had taught me earlier. Among the coral was this huge thing that closed it mouth if you touched, fauna that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">disappeared</span> if you clapped and the biggest sighting of them all a "black tip shark" passed us about 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">mts</span> away. In all its strength and glory it passed us a lighting speed. We were back up in 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">mins</span> and the dive was so amazing that I did another one next day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The dives were part of the offering in this trip I was taking on board the "reef <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">encounter</span>" where stayed overnight near the reef. There were about 6 dive/snorkel session that one could <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">indulge</span> in and when I was not diving I was snorkeling. It was so much fun to go out on the reef and explore this part of the world we had never seen before. We've all seen glimpses in national geographic but i didn't care much for sea life till I got a first hand glimpse of its diversity and colour. At diving takes you to a new high! Now I was hooked on this adventure activity. I'll be back soon for many more dives. </div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-15805088573462877062010-03-23T22:27:00.000-07:002010-03-24T20:08:25.622-07:00It felt like a kissWhen I first watched it I didn't know what to make of it. "It felt like a kiss" was originally an interactive "promenade-style" theatre production by filmmaker <b>Adam Curtis</b>. Though I haven't watched theatre production, I did watch the experimental documentary version. This was an interesting mix of images, music and history weaved to narrate a story. However, To call this a documentary is little bit of a stretch. Nevertheless it a peice of creative art, definetly worth a watch.<br /><br />It attempts to explain how power really works in the world and how America came to be the way it is today, all powerful and dictating, obviously a loaded agenda. More subtly it tries to highlight how our own ideas are a function of the prevailing political and social thought at the time. Again, I wouldn't consider this serious documentary for the reason that it a set of visuals interpreted by a narrator with a predisposed message. A more objective documentary would represent both sides of a story, be factual and evaluative and reach its conclusions that way. The overall message is a little ambiguous as well.<br /><br /><div>Watch it here</div><div><a href="http://www.documentary-film.net/search/video-listings.php?e=273">http://www.documentary-film.net/search/video-listings.php?e=273</a></div><div><a href="http://www.documentary-film.net/search/video-listings.php?e=273"></a>Learn more</div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Felt_Like_a_Kiss">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Felt_Like_a_Kiss</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>If you haven't heard of Adam Curtis, then you are missing out on the works of an excellent documentary filmmaker. One of my favorites. His works predominantly relate to society and politics of our time and how they came about. Three of his works stand out in my view</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Century of Self:</b> Is about Freudian theories on human nature and how they were adapted by Edward Bernays to invent the field of PR. Documentary highlights that this was in turn widely used in modern and contemporary society to manipulate the masses for power, both in business and politics. </div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Power of Nightmares: </b>Compares the radical Islamic movement to the rise of Neo-Conservatives and how fear, in its various ways, is used to mobilize the masses by a select group to fulfill their own vision of utopia. </div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Trap: </b>This one is a fascinating piece of work exploring the concepts of liberty and freedom in our society. The first part starts with concept of how dominant modern theories treat human as corrupt and selfish individuals with solutions ultimately aimed at acheving control. It brings in and explains Nash's cold war solution called "Fuck you buddy". Second part explores efforts by psychiatrist to define "normal" behavior and attempt to bring the masses to "standard acceptable behavior" and controlled responses. Third part explores the concept of positive and negative liberty and how governments attempt to use "liberty" as excuse for intervention ultimately leads to a trap of reducing civil liberties. I found this series very insightful and</div><div>informative and would highly recommend watching it. </div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trap_(television_documentary_series)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trap_(television_documentary_series)</a></div><div><br /></div><div>You can watch all the three series for free on this website</div><div><a href="http://www.documentary-film.net/">http://www.documentary-film.net/</a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>In the age of Soaps and reality TV, I find these refreshing to watch. Hope you do too.<br /></div><div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-41116985181224480612010-02-13T20:25:00.000-08:002010-02-14T00:45:31.680-08:00One of the Best Political Speech<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">No, its not by a liberal, not by a conservative, not from any media hogging politician we know. It is "</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Come September</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">" a speech by <b>Arundhati Roy</b>, Booker prize winner for "The God of Small Things", in 2002. I have only recently come across this amazing speech that talks about Power, Ideology, Coercion, Nationalism, Imperialism, Neo-Imperialism, Globalization, Justice and Civil unrest</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She introduces the topic with</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>The theme of much of what I write, fiction as well as nonfiction, is the relationship between power and powerlessness and the endless, circular conflict they're engaged in</i>"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>There can never be a single story. There are only ways of seeing. So when I tell a story, I tell it not as an ideologue who wants to pit one absolutist ideology against another, but as a story-teller who wants to share her way of seeing. Though it might appear otherwise, my writing is not really about nations and histories; it's about power. About the paranoia and ruthlessness of power. About the physics of power. I believe that the accumulation of vast unfettered power by a State or a country, a corporation or an institution - or even an individual, a spouse, a friend, a sibling -regardless of ideology, results in excesses such as the ones I will recount here</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">About Nationalism</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>But it isn't necessary to be 'anti-national' to be deeply suspicious of all nationalism, to be anti-national</i></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ism</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>. Nationalism of one kind or another was the cause of most of the genocide of the twentieth century</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>"</b><i><b>Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people's brains and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead</b></i><b>."</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anti-Americanism?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>The term "anti-American" is usually used by the American establishment to discredit and, not falsely - but shall we say inaccurately - define its critics. Once someone is branded anti-American, the chances are that he or she will be judged before they are heard, and the argument will be lost in the welter of bruised national pride</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Anti-Indian?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>It would be absurd to think that those who criticize the Indian government are "anti-Indian" - although the government itself never hesitates to take that line. It is dangerous to cede to the Indian government or the American government or </i></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">anyone</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i> for that matter, the right to define what "India" or "America" are or ought to be</i>."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The definition itself</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>To call someone "anti-American", indeed to </i></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">be </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>anti-American, (or for that matter, anti-Indian or anti-Timbuktuan) is not just racist, it's a failure of the imagination. An inability to see the world in terms other than those the establishment has set out for you. If you're not a Bushie you're a Taliban. If you don't love us, you hate us. If you're not Good, you're Evil. If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists.</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">War on Terror</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>The grief is still deep. The rage still sharp. The tears have not dried. And a strange, deadly war is raging around the world. Yet, each person who has lost a loved one surely knows secretly, deeply, that no war, no act of revenge, no daisy-cutters dropped on someone else's loved ones or someone else's children, will blunt the edges of their pain or bring their own loved ones back. War cannot avenge those who have died. War is only a brutal desecration of their memory.</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">" <i>What we are seeing now is a vulgar display of the business of grief, the commerce of grief, the pillaging of even the most private human feelings for political purpose. It is a terrible, violent thing for a State to do to its people.</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then she goes on to talk about several events from the past history that took place in the month of September. Overthrow of governments in South america, CIA backed coup in Chile, British mandate in Palestine. She quotes Winston Churchill's view won Palestine who said </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place.</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">follow it up with several inhumane statements by Israeli leaders. And finally on Palestine</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>Over the decades there have been uprisings, wars, intifadas. Tens of thousands have lost their lives. Accords and treaties have been signed. Cease-fires declared and violated. But the bloodshed doesn't end. Palestine still remains illegally occupied. Its people live in inhuman conditions, in virtual Bantustans, where they are subjected to collective punishments, twenty-four hour curfews, where they are humiliated and brutalized on a daily basis. They never know when their homes will be demolished, when their children will be shot, when their precious trees will be cut, when their roads will be closed, when they will be allowed to walk down to the market to buy food and medicine. And when they will not. They live with no semblance of dignity. With not much hope in sight. They have no control over their lands, their security, their movement, their communication, their water supply. So when accords are signed, and words like "autonomy" and even "statehood" bandied about, it's always worth asking: What sort of autonomy? What sort of State? What sort of rights will its citizens have?</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>What lessons should we draw from this tragic conflict? Is it really impossible for Jewish people who suffered so cruelly themselves - more cruelly perhaps than any other people in history - to understand the vulnerability and the yearning of those whom they have displaced? Does extreme suffering always kindle cruelty? What hope does this leave the human race with?</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Moving on...some other interesting quotes from the speech</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>"</b><i><b>Wars are never fought for altruistic reasons. They're usually fought for hegemony, for business. And then of course there's the business of war.</b></i><b>"</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"<i>All kinds of dissent are being defined as "terrorism". All kinds of laws are being passed to deal with it. Osama bin Laden seems to have vanished into thin air. Mullah Omar is supposed to have made his escape on a motorbike. (They could have sent TinTin after him.)</i>"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>"</b><i><b>Donald Rumsfeld said that his mission in the War Against Terror was to persuade the world that Americans must be allowed to continue their way of life. When the maddened king stamps his foot, slaves tremble in their quarters. So, standing here today, it's hard for me to say this, but "The American Way of Life" is simply not sustainable. Because it doesn't acknowledge that there is a world beyond America.</b></i><b>"</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If this peeks your interest, read the full speech at </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1) </span></span></span></span><a href="http://nmazca.com/verba/roy.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://nmazca.com/verba/roy.htm</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The speech also captured in a Documentary with pictures and videos that capture the essence of her message. The documentary is called "We"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Watch here</span></span></div><div><a href="http://freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=112"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://freedocumentaries.org/int.php?filmID=112</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I leave you with my favorite quote from her speech</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><b>"Meanwhile down at the mall there's a mid-season sale. Everything's discounted - oceans, rivers, oil, gene pools, fig wasps, flowers, childhoods, aluminum factories, phone companies, wisdom, wilderness, civil rights, eco-systems, air - all 4,600 million years of evolution. It's packed, sealed, tagged, valued and available off the rack. (No returns). As for justice - I'm told it's on offer too. You can get the best that money can buy."</b></i></span></span></span></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-2894711029721503292010-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:002010-01-26T00:19:16.489-08:00The 90s in India - ‘Pehla nasha’ se ‘Rangeela re’<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:small;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This post is dedicated to my country on its 60</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> year as a Republic.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having lived in US these past few years I quite often heard about 80s music and culture that everyone raves about. I never could relate as I was quite young in the 80s, never liked glawdy, glowy costumes or cheesy western pop songs. Though on the other side if you are Indian and if you were in your teens in the 90s, you know we are talking about a fabulous period.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmw0ghOvLDc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Pehla Nasha”</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> this dreamy and romantic song probably had more impact on young teen minds than any book or speech would ever have. It invoked passions and was liberating in the societal context. I guess it came out in 1992 or 93 but I remember it being very popular in my school when I was in 9</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> standard(1994) Every one of us boys probably dreamed of singing this to our crushes, which most of us including myself never went through with. Well! Anyway the funniest incident I remember regarding the song was the time we decided to form a choir to sing this in our school festival in 10</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> standard. Our strict vice principal wouldn’t allow us as he said it had sexual references. The fact that it only refers to a “kiss’ probably highlighted his naivety and medieval thinking. We promised to edit and sang it full anyway and got away with it. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I guess our minor innocent teen rebellions in India were much more enjoyable and less harmful than ‘drugs and guns’ in the west.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Going back a couple of years to the dawn of the 90s I remember one of my favourite was the </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtT9B8rT7PI"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Chinese radio”</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> by “London boys”.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Though, I was equally hooked on Bryan Adams, GNR and Bon Jovi. Western influences weren’t as widespread in India at the time though they were quite popular in pockets. I guess we always appreciated what we found good irrespective of origins, signs on the increasing openness of the 90s. I was in J&K at the time and quite remember these two brothers who were friends of us two brothers rocking out to “Bed of roses” though I confess I didn’t know the lyrics at all. The four of us when to adventure camp in Khajiar, Himachal Pradesh. We were woken up to a song at 5 am everyday which I forget (I’m sure my elder bro remembers. Will check) but they also played </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D39Lm_HRfOs"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Informer”</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> by snow. We all loved it and if not everyone, at least I thought it was in some weird language only to grow up and find later that it was in English sung by an American.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Moving on from Music, who can forget endless strips on ‘Chacha Chaudhury’ & ‘Twinkle’ comics we read, mostly in school sneaked in between the text books. If that wasn’t enough our favourite indoor class was definitely book cricket. What a wonderful invention! Breaks in the school days and bus trips were spent playing “trumps” with cards of wrestlers or cars. “Undertaker” and “Hulk Hogan” I remember were the ones to have. Evening cricket or football was common everyday with us running into each other homes for Mom’s or aunt’s tea and biscuits. Of course those we gulped down endless glasses of Rasna too.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Summer vacations were everyone’s favourite time of the year. Almost every year we made the long train journey back to our home town to visit our grandparents. While I enjoyed every bit of the vacation but my favourite part was the long 2 day 2 night train journey across India. In the 90s we still used trains aplenty. You could really see and experience a lot of India through these journeys and time did not seem to matter as much then. Everyone is trying to get somewhere fast these days! Back then I wished we the train ride would last forever!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I could go on and on about the small little things that epitomised our life in 90s and why they were so amazing. However, in the interest of brevity, I would recommend you look up the facebook group </span></span><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19085481352&ref=ts"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19085481352&ref=ts"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You Know You Grew Up in India in the 90s when"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to recount all those happy times.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Instead I’ll talk about the new vibrancy in “bollywood” in the late 90s reflecting the mood of the nation. I was about to complete school and move to college and around the same time two blockbuster movies captured the imagination of everyone in the nation. DDLJ and Rangeela! Who does not remember the music and how the songs got played endlessly for at least a year or two! Rangeela was my favourite of the two. Remember Urmila running on the beach in </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fbVyKdf5jU"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“tanha tanha”</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> or the crazy creative dances in </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B3pzZj27ZQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Kya kare kya na kare”</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So there you have it. I am sure I haven’t covered everything, far from it, but at least its </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a glimpse into growing up in the 90s in India. Too many things changed in India in the 90s. The country transformed. Though this post just offers some snippets into my memories, many other changes had huge bearing on our life. It was as exciting a time as present day India still is. If you experienced it you’ll know what I am talking about. If not, it’s very hard to explain what you missed.</span></span></span></span></span></p></span>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-1602343016438342002009-12-30T19:39:00.000-08:002010-01-09T15:24:29.839-08:002009: A Good Year<b>Accomplished in 2009</b><br /><ul><li>Graduated from top Business School</li><li>Got a job at the company I really wanted to work for</li><li>Backpacked across Europe covering 10 countries, 15 cities</li><li>Traveled more cities in the US</li><li>Spent good time with family</li><li>Read about 20 books both fiction and non-fiction including Politics, Philosophy, Society, Pschology and sciences</li><li>Watched over 50 movies and documentaries</li><li>Completed 3 big oil on canvas paintings</li><li>Moved to Australia</li><li>Started working and still have a job :)</li><li>Watched the NYE Sydney harbor bridge celebration (always wanted to do this one)</li><li>Abseiled for the first time</li><li>Snorkeled for the first time</li></ul><br /><b>Didn't accomplish</b><br /><ul><li>Not enough diversity in activities</li><li>Didnt learn a new skill</li><li>Wasn't able to learn spanish</li><li>Didn't spend enough time on sports. (in hind sight not as true. Did play lot of volleyball, some basketball and Tennis. Could have done more though)</li></ul><br /><b>Priorities for 2010</b><br /><br /><br /><b>Travel</b><br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Trip to New Zealand – 10 days </li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Travel back home for holidays</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Great barrier reef</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Perth on a weekend</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Planning south American backpack for 2011</li><li>One or two more random short trips</li></ul><br /><b>Activities</b><br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Get better at Salsa. Learn Tango or swing!</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Learn surfing</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Learn Spanish – Join classes?</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Improve fitness</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Some more outdoor activities and sports</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Learn some non-Indian cooking</li><li>3 more Oil paintings during the year</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>Exploring writing and documentary film-making</li><li>Read min 20 books, atleast 10 fiction/10 non-fiction</li></ul><div>More as I think of them...</div><div>Skipping a few personal items from the list for obvious reasons. </div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-8999046884192851202009-12-21T20:43:00.000-08:002009-12-21T20:52:18.835-08:00Timeline for MBA applicants<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I have been asked several times about whats required for an MBA applicant and by when. While I think every application should be doing a thorough reserach and acoming up a detailed list and plan, I have prepared a rough list to get one started. Please take this with a grain of salt as I applied almost 3 years back and I am writing this from memory. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>June - July</strong> </span></span></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Research schoolsread blogs</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Get insight into different programs/best fit</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Introspect - Why MBA, What after, is this the best choice, which regions?</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Contact bloggers/current students to get thoughts clear, get better insight</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Read MBA application books</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">GMAT/TOEFL prep</span></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Aug</strong></span></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">GMAT done</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">TOEFL done</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Recommenders lined up</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">transripts secured</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">School list complete</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Spreadsheet with requirements by school</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Initial answers written down - Why MBA - What do you plan to do immediately after - Why schools - Short and long term goals - Strength and weaknesses - resume - Prep on 1- minute narrative</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Sign up for MBA roadshows, school admission events</span></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Sep-Oct</strong></span></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Visits - Round 1 and 2 schools</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Networking with current students and alumni/Admission events</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Round 1 (</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Essays, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">recommendations, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Application forms)</span></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Oct End</strong> - Round 1 applications complete </span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Nov-dec</strong></span></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Networking with current students and alumni</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Round 2(Essays, recommendations, Application forms)</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Round 1 - Interviews</span></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Dec End</strong> - Round 2 applications complete<br /><strong>Jan-Feb</strong> - Round 2 interviews</span></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-75221780639310352732009-11-27T22:27:00.000-08:002009-11-27T22:51:21.807-08:00Life of a consultant<div>There is no typical day for a consultant but this is example of week on a traveling case. Again schedule depends from person to person and case to case. Also, this is based on my first couple of weeks on my first case so take this with a grain of salt. However, this should give you some insight into what to expect. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Monday</b></div><div>5:30 AM - Get up</div><div>6:30 AM - Cab to airport</div><div>7:30 AM - On flight, hello to other team mates on the flight and quick updates. catch up some quick work/reading for the case or get some more sleep</div><div>9:00 AM - land in Melbourne</div><div>9:45 AM - Client office</div><div>9:45 AM - 10AM - E-mails, quick chats, some planning</div><div>10 AM - 11AM - Joint planning meeting with client</div><div>11 AM - 12:30 - Getting done to some work Primarily follow ups but also Analysis, planning, data gathering or thinking time</div><div>12:30 - 1:00 PM - Lunch with team</div><div>1:30 - 2:00 PM - work stream planning and updates with Case team leader</div><div>2:00 - 3:00 PM - Discussion with partner </div><div>4:00 - 7:30 PM - get down to work</div><div>7:30 - 9:00 PM - Dinner and D chat with case team leader</div><div>10:00 PM - 12:00 PM - finish up days work. Must do work for client presentations next day</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tuesday</b></div><div>6:00 AM - get up</div><div>6:30 AM - 7:15 Am - Gym</div><div>8:15 Am - at work</div><div>8:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Call to international clients</div><div>10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - issues/roadblocks/planning discussion with CTL</div><div>11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - work</div><div>12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - working lunch and case team discussion</div><div>1:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Work (Data collection, Analysis, client calls, Thinking time, brainstorming, discussing hypothesis, solutions)</div><div>7:30 PM - 9:00 PM - casual dinner with team or other traveling consultants</div><div>9:00 PM - 11/12 - urgent work for next day</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wednesday </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Very similar to Tuesday some different meetings, different activities. More stressful.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Thursday </b></div><div>Simlar except </div><div><br /></div><div>5PM - Catch cab to airport</div><div>Work in the airport/plane and back home if a C-level client meeting is coming up. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Friday</b></div><div><br /></div><div>9 AM - At Office</div><div>9 - 10 AM - E-mails, catch up</div><div>10 - 11AM - Administrative work, expenses.</div><div>11 AM - 12PM - Work</div><div>12PM - 1PM - catch with other consultant/friends over lunch</div><div>1 PM - 4PM - Very focussed at work. Get things done!</div><div>4 pm - 6 PM - Office meeting(once a month). Drinks and cake(always)</div><div>7 PM - After work drinks...</div><div><br /></div><div>Ready for weekend</div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-18801659589591354412009-10-24T04:41:00.000-07:002009-10-24T04:46:05.319-07:00“Matter” Don’t really matter?<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This post is continuation of the previous post on scientific discoveries and insight on the nature of matter that we have gained over past couple of hundred years. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><a href="http://anandologue.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-matter-knowledges-great-progress-to.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://anandologue.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-matter-knowledges-great-progress-to.html</span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whenever I discuss these topics with others, most ask me why it really matters. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Does knowing what “matter” is, of any significance to the common man? Is an understanding of these phenomena necessary?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Despite having extensive experimental evidence for the classical theories, quantum mechanics and relativity, they are neither widely known and understood nor accepted. This baffles me and I can only speculate on the reasons why. Many people find scientific concepts complex and difficult to understand. Surprisingly this is also true in most developed countries. The difficulty stems from the lack of proper grounding and good teaching methods in early years, which cultivates a lack of interest later in life.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The other reason could be that many are more concerned with day to day life to ponder about these questions. Living in the society of today is all about earning a livelihood or pursuit of happiness which is increasingly becoming the pursuit of money, luxury and comfort. While there is nothing wrong with this it also happens to be a never-ending pursuit. We have lot of more technology, amenities and comfort than compared to a few centuries back but do we really lead happier and fulfilled life? Important thing to note that marginal utility of any desire decreases as it becomes increasingly available. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The third reason could be metal comfort. Sometimes there are ready answers provided to us that we grow up with. It’s much easier accepting them and living within these bounds rather than question the artificial bounds itself.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also, what we learn early in life seems familiar and forms our intuition and as a result what we already know seems intuitively right, regardless of merit or correctness of the belief. That’s why new information doesn’t seem to matter that much.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, why does it really matter? Well! How do you go about life if you don’t know what you are really living for? I find this important and significant but I am in the minority. Would you play a game without knowing the rules? What if you start playing a game that you don’t know why you are playing and you have to figure out the rules as you go? Someone else who has played the game explains a loose set of rules they figured out when they played. You find they apply in some situations but not in others. Would you continue playing believing the handed down set as true or make an attempt to find and improve your understanding? For YOU to play the GAME, isn’t it important to know the RULES or would you rather play the same way irrespective of the rules?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To add to all this very few of the discoveries of the past century are taught in schools these days. And when we grow up we continue to live our lives based on things we already know and have accepted. Very few seek out new knowledge and still fewer accept it, especially if it challenges the very core of what we have believed. “Surely, I can’t have been mistaken all this while!” “In any case I have done okay living the way that I lived so why should I change what I believe here on?” “It doesn’t really matter” Hence the greatest discoveries of the past couple of centuries are kept but for a few to enjoy and pass on. Others just go on to say “There is so much we don’t know perhaps will never find out” Never for once bothering to look!</span></span></p>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-31163101856216507012009-10-22T03:25:00.000-07:002009-10-22T03:33:01.067-07:00On “Matter”, Knowledge’s great progress to thousands of years back<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Divisibility” The Greeks started with it! They thought all matter was composed of smaller particles down to single unique and indivisible particle called “atom”. They were right that all matter was made up of atoms but wrong in the sense that it was the smallest unique, identical particle that constituted all matter. However, one interesting notion that came out of this idea was the fact that whatever we see around us is all essential made of the same thing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Almost couple of thousands years later there came J. J Thompson, his experiments and pumpkin model of the atom. We found electrons and later we found Protons and Neutrons. “Oh! There are smaller particles!” This gave birth to particle Physics. Further down the road we realized that protons & neutrons are made up of Quarks and Electrons of Leptons. These were now considered the elementary particles that made up all the matter. So why did we stop there? Surely if atoms could be made of smaller particles and protons & electrons of smaller particles then ever our elementary particles could be made up of smaller particles too? And that’s what happened! More we searched smaller particles we found but this would not go on endlessly.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On a parallel track, Quantum mechanics took up where classical mechanics left off. Experiments and theories such Max Planks’ Quanta, Einstein’s Photo-electric Effect, De Broglie Wave-particle duality, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle formed the basis of Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. While quantum mechanics gave us unparallel insight into the small world, Einstein relativity theories finally answered the puzzles of the big world and heavenly bodies.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By 1920 we were begun to understand not only how matter is composed, how it interacts, how forces are created and how macroscopic properties arise. However, we had one major problem. Relativity and quantum mechanics did not agree. It was difficult to account for gravitational forces at subatomic level and quantum effects for large bodies. Both theories within their spheres, however, had plenty of experimental evidence to prove them irrefutably correct and accurate. This was one of physics biggest problem which is still unresolved to this day. Nevertheless, from 60s till now String theory of Universe has come long way in addressing these problems. Essentially what the string theory proposes is that the entire Universe is made up of one thing – tiny strings and all the matter and forces in this Universe are made up of different configuration of these strings. Those you have read books on Quantum mechanics, Relativity or the string theory would understand that in the last 3 paragraphs I have been trying to outline what essentially requires detailed discussion and substantiation. In fact the book “Elegant Universe” does a good job of walking through these theories in fairly simplistic terms. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So now I can finally come to the point that I am trying to make, which would not be possible without this background. The point is that we are beginning to realize or believe that Universe is entirely integrated body which at its very granular level is made up of the same thing. All different forms of energy, forces and matter are created of different configuration of the same unique material. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well some may say why did this take us so long to realize? Ancient Vedanta Philosophy said the exact same thing around 800 – 1000 BC, almost 3000 years back. They also highlighted principles of truth and reality that are now quite consistent with our understanding of quantum mechanics as well as modern philosophies regarding human perception of truth and reality, in particular Kant’s. Question is, have we rediscovered the same knowledge that existed thousands or years prior and interpreted in a different way. How did we fail to build up on something that already existed and make a full circle? </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p><p></p>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-90441583556496405292009-10-07T08:22:00.000-07:002010-10-21T01:48:28.933-07:00DocumentariesThere was a time when documentaries were factual and boring. With the advent of Discovery, National Geographic and others they have become more and more interesting and entertaining. On the other hand their neutrality, factual correctness and objectivity have suffered. Lots of them now have a pre-conceived agenda rather than exploring both sides of an issue. Nevertheless, I find myself seeing more documentaries than ever. I have listed down a few I have watched and hope others might find them interesting as well. Generally, I like independent productions but some of my favorite ones have been produced by BBC Horizon series. I have attempted to rate them as well as put indicator on objectivity. I know many are turned off by Documentaries that are totally nonobjective.<div><br /></div><div>+/- Objectivity (+ being more objective)</div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>My top 3</b></div><div>The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom - 5.0 + </div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trap_(television_documentary_series)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trap_(television_documentary_series)</a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Ascent of Money: The Financial History of the World - 5.0 ++ </div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Money</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Human, All Too Human: Nietzsche 4.5 ++ </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Society</b></div><div>Rageh inside Iran - 4.0 ++ </div><div>The Ascent of Money (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ascentofmoney/) - 5.0 ++ </div><div>Human, All Too Human - Nietzsche - 4.5 ++ </div><div>The world according to Monsanto - 4.5 +</div><div>It felt like a kiss - 3.5 - </div><div>The Century of self (4 part series) - 5.0 +</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Religion</b></div><div>The Story of God - 3.5 -</div><div>The God Delusion - 3.5 +</div><div>Religulous - 3.5 --</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Politics</b></div><div>Fahrenheit 9/11 - 4.5 -</div><div>Occupation 101 - 3.5 --</div><div>Freedom to Facism - 3.5 --</div><div>Power of Nightmares(3 part series) - 4.0 +</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Health</b></div><div>Sicko - 4.0 - </div><div>Super Size me - 3.5 -</div><div>Magic Weed - History Of Marijuana - 3.5 +</div><div>Ecstasy Rising - 4.0 +</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Science & Environment</b></div><div>Journey To The Edge Of The Universe - 3.5 +</div><div>A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawkin’s ideas about the Universe - 4.0 +</div><div>The Elegant Universe - 4.5 ++</div><div>How Does Your Memory Work - 4.0 +</div><div>Uncertainty Principle - 4.0 +</div><div>An Inconvenient Truth - 3.5 +</div><div><br /></div><div><b>History</b></div><div>Auschwitz: The Nazis & The Final Solution - 3.5 +</div><div>Tryst with destiny (Fall of the British Empire) - 4.0 +</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Updated Oct 21 2010</i></div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-9627132171014356482009-09-26T09:23:00.000-07:002009-09-26T09:56:35.102-07:00More financial troubles ahead?<div style="text-align: justify;">The news of legislation to increase oversight on Federal reserve got me curious about their current state of affairs. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">More on proposed legislation ></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-audit-bill-gets-backing-from-key-lawmaker-2009-09-25">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-audit-bill-gets-backing-from-key-lawmaker-2009-09-25</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-audit-bill-gets-backing-from-key-lawmaker-2009-09-25"></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wanted to investigate how much Fed's credit has expanded in the past year see if there are signs on trouble as we emerge from the recession. Its the first time I'm looking at Fed's balance sheet and am not even sure I can understand it. However, whatever little I did understand makes me very nervous. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h41/Current/">http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h41/Current/</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reserve bank credit has almost double the past year from $1.1 trillion to $2.1 Trillion. About $900 Billion of it coming in increased Treasury Securities. But I also noticed that fed has about $690 Billion in Mortgage backed securities. I wondered if this was marked to market which I doubted and the footnote provided more details. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">"Guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. Current face value of the securities, which is the remaining principal balance of the underlying mortgages"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It appears that they are not marked to market but at face value of remaining principal balance which is cause for concern as these were trading at 10 cents to the dollar when they were bought. Most market participants thought that they would collect the fraction of the face value due to defaults. Fed is holding off selling these MBS for now but when the eventually do sell them they might incur a huge loss. I wonder what it means for a central bank but a $300 - $400 B loss on $2.1 T balance sheet can't be good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Coming bank to increased credit and corresponding increase in treasury securities, it has to be inflationary. When the economy shows any sign of recovery inflation might be a big problem leading to a weak dollar. Further, holders might look to offload their US treasuries leading to Dollar plummeting. We might be in for serious currency crisis with lot of volatility world over. </div><div><br /></div><div>Again, I am not a economist and most of what I have said is speculative. However, whatever I do understand is concerning. I did search for other who might be looking at fed's growing balance sheet. While most did say inflation is on cards I found this one particularly interesting saying that its not necessary and not inevitable. This one's explains it via basic marco-economic principles. </div><div><a href="http://taxesandbudget-blog.ncpa.org/the-feds-balance-sheet-and-inflation/">http://taxesandbudget-blog.ncpa.org/the-feds-balance-sheet-and-inflation/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>All said and done I am still wary of another impending shock and I think its best to be prepared.</div></div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-87935698429493002132009-09-10T23:26:00.000-07:002009-10-05T08:09:45.190-07:00Iran vs. USA - Other side of the coin<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Wouldn’t you be pissed if a foreign country helped overthrow your democratically elected government in favor of Dictator? (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d'%C3%A9tat">1953 Iranian coup d'état</a>) Now if that’s not enough what if when the Dictator was overthrown in favor or republic, however skewed, and this country called you Totalitarian? (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution">Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979</a>) Isn’t that a perfection definition of Hypocrisy? What if this power supplied Biological and Chemical weapons to another country you are at war with and had every intention of using these weapons and they did end up using them. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_support_for_Iraq_during_the_Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_war">United States support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq war</a>) Would you trust the foreign power? What if that power labeled you as evil? Would your reaction be shock, disgust or hate? This may be Iran’s view of the USA as all the above incidents are actually factual.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There is the other side to the story which we are more familiar with - The Iranian revolution, Iran hostage crisis(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis">Iran hostage crisis</a>), the Islamic repulic and represive life in Iran. Maybe the US view of Iran is also equally justified. However, what started what? who is good and who is evil, right or wrong? Quite often it’s not as simple as right vs. wrong or Good vs. evil? Conservatives in US will like you to think otherwise and live in fear. Read and understand the events and make your own judgment!</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Iran and US relations</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93United_States_relations">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–United_States_relations</a></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In future don’t be so ignorant about Iran. Learn more about the life in Tehran</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p>Rageh inside Iran - <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/r9hnte/">http://tinyurl.com/r9hnte/</a></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Don’t trust people who want to force an opinion down your throat. Read history and make your own judgments.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>Added on Oct 05, 2009 - Something else I found on the net related to the topic</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/10/01/cole/">http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/10/01/cole/</a></p>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-30465109769819156632009-09-03T02:43:00.000-07:002011-01-25T22:24:51.038-08:00Foreign language films<div>I guess the word "Foreign" depends on what your native tongue is. For me its Hindi though I watch far more English i.e. Hollywood movies. However, of late I have starting seen more Hindi i.e. Bollywood movies as well as films in many different languages. I compiled a list of some (other than Hindi and English) I have watched with rating on 5 point scale hoping that like me it provides those who are bored with traditional blockbusters an oppurtunity to enjoy something different. I know I am missing some good Chinese and japanese movies but i'll include them soon. Here is the list -</div><div><br /></div><div><b>French</b></div><div>Paris je T'aime (Paris, I love you) - 4.0</div><div>Belle de jour - 4.0</div><div>Delicatessen - 3.5</div><div>Manon des source - 3.0</div><div>Il y a longtemps que Je T'aime (I loved you so long) - 4.0</div><div>Quand j'étais chanteu (When I was a singer) - 3.5</div><div>Auberge espagnole, L (The Spanish Apartment) - 4.0</div><div>Trzy kolory: Bialy (Three colors: White) - 3.5</div><div>Baxter - 4.5</div><div>Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain - 5.0</div><div>Le scaphandre et le papillon (The diving Bell and the butterfly) - 4.5</div><div>Nikita - 4.0</div><div>Leon - 3.0</div><div>Der Name der Rose (The name of the rose) - 3.5</div><div>Irreversible - 3.5</div><div>A girl cut in two - 3.0</div><div><div>Three colors: Red - 3.5</div><div>Une Hirondelle a fait le Printemps (The Girl from Paris) - 3.0</div><div>Le Placard (The closet) - 4.0</div><div>Les rivières pourpres (Crimson rivers) - 4.5</div></div><div>Masculin-Feminin-4.5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Italian</b></div><div>Il Postino (The postman) - 5.0</div><div>La vita è bella (life is beautiful) - 5.0</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Polish</b></div><div>Short film about Love - 4.5</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Danish</b></div><div>Pistoleros - 3.5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>German</b></div><div>Jerichow - 4.0</div><div>Das Leben der Anderen - The Lives of others - 3.5</div><div>Die Fälscher - The Counterfeiters - 3.5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Spanish</b></div><div>The Spanish Woman - 3.5</div><div>Motorcycle Diaries - 4.5</div><div>Amores Perros - 4.5</div><div>La misma Muna - 4.0</div><div>Fermat's room - 4.5</div><div>Hable con ella- 4.0</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Serbian</b></div><div>No Mans land - 5.0</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Portugese</b></div><div>Cidade de Deus- 4.5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Arabic</b></div><div>Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (The Band's visit) - 3.5</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Persian</b></div><div>Offside - 3.5</div><div>The Song of sparrows - 4.0</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><b>Cantonese </b></div><div>Blood brothers - 3.0</div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><i>*updated Oct 21 2010</i></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-73569847491777429972009-08-20T01:38:00.000-07:002009-08-20T02:03:37.860-07:00Euro Trip - All about the Expenses<div>As promised I'm posting the details of the expenses on 50 day Euro trip by category. I would have loved to find something like this while planning my trip and thus decidde to record, consolidate and post these details. I hope this helps others plan their trips.<div><br /></div><div>My total expenses for the trip were Euro 3,635 over 50 days all inclusive. I'd say that we were careful with our money but not too stingy. We did save a lot on food and hardly ate any expensive meals. I didn't do any shopping other than souvenirs. Still, its possible to do this on much smaller budget. Eastern Europe is especially great value for your money!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the details below:</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIqGczLefItp30JJohAPs2V463ERtxpykclesgxBkQu_EjSgRhnr17viXreULNfFzbEYVNAsrJKvvLXnqnI37iimcrxVf3dCS-3Sim6D_odI-kzg6h2LWcQzVPssJQVGcGA/s1600-h/Euro+trip+expenses.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIqGczLefItp30JJohAPs2V463ERtxpykclesgxBkQu_EjSgRhnr17viXreULNfFzbEYVNAsrJKvvLXnqnI37iimcrxVf3dCS-3Sim6D_odI-kzg6h2LWcQzVPssJQVGcGA/s400/Euro+trip+expenses.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371963481607629330" /></a><b>Notes:</b><div>Northern Europe includes Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark</div><div>Eastern Europe includes Poland, Czech republic, Hungary and Austria</div><div>Southern Europe includes Italy and Greece<br /><br /><div><b>Tips:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>1. Make sure to book your flight tickets early</div><div>2. Optimise your Euro rail pass. It helps a lot in Northern Europe but some of the Eastern European countries are not included. To save money you could book a pass with lower travel days and pay on the go for one or two trains in Eastern Europe</div><div>3. Train reservations cost about 5-10 Euros per reservation and are mandatory on most trains</div><div>4. While booking Hostel look out for ones with good kitchens; will help you save money on dinner</div><div>5. Be careful about cleanliness while picking hostels. Sometimes you'll pay a premium for Hostel fun and culture but in our experience it was always worth it</div><div>6. If you like to go out and have fun, definitely don't restrict yourself. Its better to buy few beers at groceries and have them to start of your night and save $$</div><div>7. If you are student, make sure that you get an international student id which costs about $24. It saved us over 50 Euros each. Especially useful on longer trips</div><div>8. Be aware of the transaction fees charged by your cards. Always use your debit card to withdraw cash. Pay by cash everywhere. The exchange rate and fees on credit card is a rip off</div><div>9. On Inter-city transport Euro Rail is worth it for longer trips. For short trips consider your alternatives such as the bus and sub-urban trains and not using your EU rail pass</div><div>10. For Iintra-city travel figure out whether you can cover city on foot or you need to take the metro. If latter, how often. Sometimes its better to buy individual tickets and other times a day pass, multiday pass or group passes. Ask at the Hostel about this the day you arrive.</div><div>11. Evaluate howmany museums/sites you are going to visit and whether a pass is better than individual entry. You get great discounts as a student under the age of 26. If thats available to you make sur enot to miss it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll add other thoughts as and when I remember</div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-68392612669235060622009-07-29T02:49:00.000-07:002010-05-01T22:17:59.761-07:00Look back at Euro TripMy 50 day long trip acroos Europe covering 15 cities was exciting, adventurous and exteremely enjoyable. Though I kept a personal journal noting down events and thoughts it would be quite some effort to type that online and would be incredibly long as well. Also, not everything in there is for public consumption. However, so those who did not follow me on twitter as i kept tweeting along the trip, I decided to compile all the tweets into one blogpost. This might provide you some idea of my day to day expereince. For my friends on FB you have access to my pictures too. I plan to follow up this post with another about some planning tips and Finances for anyone intending to do something similar.<br /><br />Day1: Super excited as I startmy 2 month, 14 city Euro trip today!<br />Day 2: Just landed in Amsterdam and checked into my hostel. Looks great, right in the center of everything. Ready to head out after a shower<br />Day 2: walked around, explored the city and did what everyone does in Amsterdam on Day1<br />Day 3: headed for the museums today. Took the walking tour yesterday which was fabulous! Slept at 3:30AM last night, easing into party mode!<br />Day 3: Break on through, to the other side!<br />>Day 3:Escape nightclub was good but have seen better!<br />Day 5: End of exciting but exhausting and expensive Amsterdam! Heading over to Brussels today<br />Day 5: Found the 'Grand Place' in Brussels truly awesome. Lots of museums to cover tomorrow before heading to the Euroferia festival!<br />Day 6: Really enjoyed Brussels, it has some amazing sights and vibrant street culture. Also managed to dance salsa at 'Euroferia' festival<br />Day 7: Antwerp is lot more than a Diamond trading city; great plazas, cafes, restaurants, cathedrals and other sites. Loved the day trip out<br />Day 7: People mainly speak French in Brussels but I don't really mind, its great to hear even if you don't understand most of it!<br />Day 7: Caught up with Henri at 'Delirium', exchanged travel stories and drank some delicious beers!<br />Day 8: First long EU rail journey from Brussels to Hamburg. Enjoyed the countryside scenery and the rail trip<br />Day 9: Hamburg: took the walking tour to cover most of the city; checked out the port and other areas in the evening. Beer's cheap here!<br />Day 10: Its been 10 days of rain, wind and chilly weather, come on, I thought I was on a summer tour.<br />Day 10; Hamburg: Kunsthalle (Arts Musuem) and Maritime museum were both amazing; 'Reeperbahn' was interesting, though less said the better!<br />Day 11: Took the train that loads on to a ferry onroute hamburg to Copenhagen; so cool!<br />Day 11: Reunited with Kapil!<br />Day 12: Copenhagen: walked around the city; checked out Christiana, Rosenberg Garden and castle and the little Mermaid<br />Day 13: Copenhagen: covered the national museum and Glypototek; Copenhagen is a pretty expensive city but has beautiful parks and sights<br />Day 14: Long train ride from Copenhagen to Berlin. The hostel looks amazing, good, cos we are here 5 days. Lets get the party started!<br />Day 15: Berlin: Took the walking tour and explored the city on foot for almost 9 hours. Berlin is an amazing city with so much history!<br />Day 16: Berlin: Sachenhausen concentration camp by day; Pargammom Museum in afternoon; Pub crawl at night; Partied till the sun came up!<br />Day 17: Berlin: covered 4 Museums, climbed up Reichstag for an awesome view and checked out the WWII ruins of the old church<br />Day 17: Berlin: 10 hours on foot + 7 hours pub crawl - 5 hours sleep + 10 more hours on foot = Very Very tired!<br />Day 18: Berlin: The palaces in 'Postdam' were great; so was the east side gallery. Another pub crawl tonight....yipeee!!<br />Day 19: Long train ride from Berlin to Warsaw. On first sight Warsaw looks great. Its Saturday night....ready to head out and party!<br />Day 19: Lithuanians, Mexicans, Indonesian, Taiwanese and Indian all partying together in the polish capital....how about that!<br />Day 19: Third night this week of partying till the sun comes up, Phew! Didn't know Warsaw was such a party town. Now I know!<br />Day 20: Warsaw: Walked around and covered the Royal Castle and Starego Miasta.<br />Day 20: Warsaw: Gorgeous city with beautiful and nice people, lovely squares and streets. I <3><br />Day 21: Warsaw has some excellent expansive parks; 1944 Uprising museum was great; Completed bookings for stopover at Krakow & Auswitch<br />Day 22: Just landed at Krakow from Warsaw. First sights are interesting; btw have I mentioned I love the Polish, they are nice.<br />Day 23: Went saw Auschwitz. No words can describe the madness that happened there. Headed to prague tonight.<br />Day 24: Stranded somewhere in between the Czech and Polish border! Hurricane; No trains, no Buses...No-one speaks English!<br />Day 24: 7 AM-Bonhium...8AM-Train to Ostrava..9:30 Train to Polom...10:30- Bus to Hranice...4:30PM - Prague..finally! 10 hrs behind plan!<br />Day 25: Prague: Walking tour was amazing! Prague is such a colorful city; great history and sights. Prague castle is magnificent!<br />Day 25: Prague :7:30AM back from a night of partying....need some sleep! btw advice..never try 4 shots of Absynth in one night!<br />Day 26: Walk along the river was great. Hard to keep up the pace on 3 hours sleep. Prague is amazing though, on every level!<br />Day 26: Prague: "Karlovy lázně" one of the best night clubs I've seen. 5 storey, different music every level, packed and awesome!<br />Day 27: Traveled through Slovakia to reach Budapest. Slovak countryside was beautiful. Budapest at night looks awesome!<br />Day 28: Budapest: Checked out the 'Pest' area. 'Heroes square' looks imposing. St Istvan Bascilla and Vajdahunyad castle were interesting.<br />Day 28: Budapest: Covered National Museum and Buda area including the Royal castle. View from up top were amazing! Enjoyed the Turkish bath!<br />Day 29: Budapest: Drank some beers in the park and played bridge to celebrate Yohan's b'day. Doesn't seem too exciting but it was fun!<br />Day 30: Traveled from Budapest to Vienna. Wombat's hostel is awesome. Watching Wimbledon & doing laundry today. Hang out at the bar later<br />Day 31:Interesting night last night at the Hostel! Sleepily explored Parliment, Gothic cathedral and Museum of Fine arts today. Tired now!<br />Day 32: Vienna: City of Palaces that reflect the pomp and glory of its Imperial past. So many of them, I wonder if they had other hobbies?<br />Day 33: Vienna: Covered Pasterplatz and Danube island and feel like dancing to Viennese waltz. On to Italy; headed to Venice tonight!<br />Day 34: Arrived in Venice via overnight train. Getting lost in Venice is not too bad, beautiful streets, canals and scenery.<br />Day 34: Sitting on the Venice waterfront on a beautiful full moon night listening to Pink Floyd..dreaming...drifting...<br />Day 35: Venice: Palace Ducale was quite intriguing. Blue waters, canals, gondales, tourists..beginning to see what Venice is about.<br />Day 35: Venice: 1.5 Ltr wine for 2 Euros is a very good deal. It makes me :)<br />Day 36: Venice: Moreno Island is a real gem. Narrow alleys, lovely bridges and great waterfront views! btw plenty more wine tonight :)<br />Day 37: Enjoyed the train ride from Venice to Florence. Nice Scenery. Archi Rossi Hostel is Florence looks great!<br />Day 37: Florence: Blown away by the beauty of Florence. Night life on Wednesday is top notch as well!<br />Day 38: Florence: Explored sights around the city. Florence has an long and interesting history. Its also a great place to people watch!<br />Day 39: Straighened theLeaning tower of Pisa, walked city of Sienna and was thrilled at the site of 'Il Campo'<br />Day 40: Not sure if two hour wait for The Uffizi gallery was worth it. Good but not the best Ive seen. btw toooo many Americans in Florence!<br />Day 40: Florence to Rome. First night in Rome, a night of partying. This Hostel is crazy!<br />Day 41: Rome: Everywhere you look in Rome you find things from thousands of years back. 'Trevi' Fountain is incredible!<br />Day 42: Rome: Colusseum is magnificient. Was amazed walking through the old Roman city. Its amazing how advanced Roman's were!<br />Day 43: Vatican is Grand; Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo - Magnificient, breathtaking, jaw-dropping.. words don't do justice!<br />Day 44: Borghese gallery is one of the best Private museums I have seen; Rome has too many great Plazas; Last night in Rome :(<br />Day 45: Rome to Athens: Ran for about an hour with 25kg backpack thanks to italrail efficiencies, $#@#; lost 15 Euros to Ticket machine :(<br />Day 46: Acropolis is quite amazing though I wish it was better preserved. Its hot, Hike up is not fun, New Acropolis Museum is good though<br />Day 46: Athens: Checked out the night scene and local drinks with a Franco-Greek group! Interesting experience, made for good conversation.<br />Day 47: Hiked up Fillipananou Hill. Another very hot day! Guess who found in Athens - The Indian Navy - crew from INS Delhi and INS Beas.<br />Day 48: The Roman and Ancient Agora are incredible. Some ruins date back to 6th century BC. Might the beach parties tonight!<br />Day 49: Day trip to the Island of Aegina. Crystal clear waters, green sea and sandy beaches. Drove around the island on scooty. Good fun!<br />Day 50: In Abu Dhabi enroute to Mumbai, then onward to Bangalore. Will be home in about 16 hrs!<br /><br />51 days,15 cities,10 Countries,100+ sites,60+ Churches, over 30+ Museums, 25+ drinking nights, 10 pub crawls and Euro trip is finally over!Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-92228931862674479952009-06-06T13:18:00.000-07:002009-06-06T13:30:01.632-07:00Europe Travel Itinerary<div>Posting my Europe travel <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">itinerary</span> on popular request</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc0-zsYpLObpKIG2YZG5HWx_kby3V3TEk0DLMpxtyp0skBb5AH7SzVDcj-3tJATherbdbaf9R-hHG0OSyJbj7Ecmv6lDJFh7G2qFMw3tZA7uxezMf5e6WB275TTEDt_bCJw/s1600-h/itin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc0-zsYpLObpKIG2YZG5HWx_kby3V3TEk0DLMpxtyp0skBb5AH7SzVDcj-3tJATherbdbaf9R-hHG0OSyJbj7Ecmv6lDJFh7G2qFMw3tZA7uxezMf5e6WB275TTEDt_bCJw/s400/itin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344314389965828626" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div><div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-77312281999889439892009-05-29T17:34:00.000-07:002009-05-31T10:34:26.954-07:00Reflections on my four year in USA<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><span style=";color:black;">I first came to US in March 2005. It was my first time away from Indian shores. After graduating from college I had started working for IT services firm in Pune, India in 2002. This was the first I lived away from home. Three years down the line I had my opportunity to play a client interfacing role by moving to Minneapolis US. Something, that was meant to bring both money and career opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Even though I was brought up in a pretty liberal family and grew up watching western television, NBA, listening to Bryan Adams, Bon Joni, GNR, my first impressions can still be described as a culture shock. Though, an infrastructure shock more aptly describes it. I was amazed at the scale of everything, the roads, highways, the number of cars, Malls, numbers of stores, the downtown landscapes. The culture shock was more confined to the openness of society and what was considered acceptable.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Minneapolis was where I was going to be and as expected I was greeted by chilly pre-spring weather. I took up work with all excitement at both working with new and different people as well as enthusiasm stemming from a new role. Over the couple of years, my biggest lesson at work was perhaps the professionalism that everyone showed in how they acted and communicated. Though I always considered myself well equipped on the former, I developed significantly on the latter aspect. Outside work I was thrilled by the number and diversity of opportunities for entertainment. America is a much more open society than India which offered its own benefits and I came to like it very much. Like everything that has its ups and down but for now I was enjoying myself thoroughly.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Suburban life in Minneapolis didn’t appeal to me as much and I moved downtown. Though I enjoyed living in downtown much more, I realized that it had its own drawbacks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I then moved uptown which was perhaps one of the best living experiences I have had in my life. The big lakes close by provided ample space to run, walk or hang out. With plenty of small bars, cafes at stone throw and very diverse, open and young crowd, every day was exciting and fun.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Slowly but surely I got introduced to US consumerism. At first I was amazed at the quantities and numbers of products each individual buys and consumes. As time went on, I was appalled. Most people didn’t need as much but they used it anyway because they could! Having grown up with lot of poverty around in India, I felt that I had more appreciation of what it means to live modestly and within means rather than being extravagant. I ended up having many arguments and discussions on the topic with friends. Opinions were always divided.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">My stay in US and increased dollar salary opened up opportunities for further travels. Within US I visited New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Niagara Falls, Detroit, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Yellowstone, and places in Illinois, Dakotas, Minnesota countryside, and outer banks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I even went up north to Toronto and surrounding areas in Canada. Pretty soon I started looking beyond US shores and visited France, Spain, Australia in the last couple of years and while at Darden.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Having lived in US for couple of years I realized that higher education especially Business education was really good here and decided to apply to the top business schools in the country. Fortunately I made it to Darden and headed down to Charlottesville for my MBA. Darden experience was fabulous and enriching. I’ll skip the details here as I already have several posts on my Darden MBA experience.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Socially, however, Charlottesville was a very different experience than Minneapolis. I had encountered some bias or differentiation in the past in US but frequent and systemic way it happened in Charlottesville had a profound negative effect on me. In fact I have no come to believe and accept that outside the bigger cities in US which are cosmopolitan and diverse; people are very conservative in their beliefs and narrow minded in their outlook. I can also say that this is not a US problem alone and I have seen it everywhere I have been and I am pretty sure that India suffers from such prejudices as well. On the other hand on the issue of religious freedom, US is surely are far behind other developed countries. I would definitely contest about US’s secular credentials. There are so many references to God, Christianity and Christian beliefs in everyday life that it would be difficult for anyone of a different faith to not feel marginalized. I could be right or wrong about all this but I talk from my personal experiences.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">On the positive side I really appreciated US entrepreneurial culture and economic freedom it provides to its citizens. There are but few hurdles to starting your own business and people seem to take that option more than anywhere else in the world. Once you been here some years you realize that why indeed US has become so prosperous. I admire the fact that US has preserved its founding fathers vision of individual rights and liberties. However, sometimes it takes the notion of capitalism too far and does not think of providing for the needy. I do not like how socialism is portrayed in the US and I hope thinking will progress in future. After all the underlying concept of socialism is equality.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">Focus on economics perhaps leads many to develop the Winner-loser mentality. There is great appreciation for money and power. You are somebody if you have either or reflect it in some way. At the same time, you can’t get far unless you market yourself well. This is why people spend so much on appearance either personal or household. I would like to think or it is my opinion that in the East, at least in Asia, people are judged on action and character more than on appearance and this in turn converts to status and appeal. This however is broad generalization and like every such generalization somewhat inaccurate and definitely controversial.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">It’s quite hard to cover over four years of my life experiences in one post. I have been blogging for about the same time and have written over hundred posts. So this is post is by no means comprehensive but rather the few things that come to mind immediately about my experiences here. The thing I cherish the most about my experiences here are the friends I have made and the amazing moments I shared with them. I have indeed learnt a lot and developed as a person both in personality and intellectual thought. I am certain this change wouldn’t have occurred if I was in very familiar setting I grew up in. I believe that diverse experiences are required to develop a person.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal">In conclusion I leave US with mixed feelings. I am certainly going to miss my friends. There are many comforts and opportunities that US provides that I am going to miss as well. However, the most comforting thing I find is to be close to your good friends and family. Since India is on the other side of the world, anywhere I move gets me closer to family. Nevertheless, I have more good friends in US than anywhere else in the world and I hope I can keep in regular touch with them and see them often. I am on the other hand excited for a new phase in my life, new adventures and opportunities. I leave with mixed feelings. <br /></p></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11210028.post-53965610631595546812009-05-19T13:43:00.000-07:002009-05-19T21:57:50.972-07:00I'm a MBA<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; ">This Sunday, May 17<sup>th</sup> I graduated from Darden School of Business, University of Virginia with a Masters in Business Administration. It was a very proud moment for me. I attended both the UVA and Darden ceremonies. The UVA ceremony highlighted the history, tradition and prestige of this great university. Darden ceremony reflected a sense or community, personal touch and celebration.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><br /></p><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PFYRtgdIlo51XacUxT3sw5jn6kZ1p0K3Zk3Muw1O6Sc-QgWIIOnSnz7991eZZGd8jUYS7FB_0sECYo8iZ6kiFzBoz41idgpXd2N6xqnmOK8GRtfEI-AtoTTgYaUsatMKqw/s400/DSC05695.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337764403687985314" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; ">UVA ceremony started with the procession in front of the admiring family, friends, alumni and other visitors and we then took our place in front of the dias. As every school walked out there was huge applause all round. Soon after the speeches of the keynote speaker the dean and the president of the university awarded the degree School by School, again to huge cheers and applause. Our joy and sense of pride on being awarded the degree in such a historical place amongst an admiring crowd is indescribable. The feeling of History and tradition was all too evident. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><br /></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimr3UVBFdqnMrVlGdvCSZZIefP8pidJ4AKtoSFD3g23fAivVnH5kF6R5iD5c0Kg-AM_5D0fWOd5rzcfDVH971b0fF1Pi8OKaXuNu_cRB2qwW-BvvxhoPxjNp7_gXBndEif6w/s400/DSC05706.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337764407261572178" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; ">After the UVA ceremony we immediately caught a shuttle back to the Darden grounds where we lined up for the procession. Again we walked amongst family and friends and took our seats in front of the stage. It was raining a bit but we were all excited to continue with the ceremony. The words of our Dean "There is a little rain out there but if that doesn't bother you, it surely doesn't bother me" met with a huge cheer and highligted the spirit of the graduating class. This was followed by an excellent and entertaining speech by a fellow elected classmate. Soon we were again lining up to collect our diplomas from the Dean. I received a "faculty award for academic excellence" which pleased me no end. It was definetly an exciting and joyful day for me.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237911777142072460noreply@blogger.com0