Refill!!

Now the next time you are in Chennai Central Station, refill the water bottle that you carry instead buying a new one.. There is a kiosk that sells filtered, potable water for refills in one of the platforms (forgot which one).Apart from doing your bit to save the environment, you'll save some bucks too!! (Its just Rs. 2 for 500 ml, Rs. 3 for 1 ltr and Rs. 5 for 2 lts)

NGC photo of the day

A taste of satisfaction

An excerpt from Bill Waterson....

"I've loved comic strips as long as I can remember. As a kid, I knew I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an astronaut. The latter was never much of a possibility, as I don't even like riding in elevators. I kept my options open until seventh grade, but when I stopped understanding math and science, my choice was made. There is great personal satisfaction in attending to detail and quality, and I remain very proud of the standards the strip met day after day. I also liked the responsibility of knowing that, succeed or fail, it was all my own doing. This approach kept the strip very honest and personal--everything having to do with Calvin and Hobbes expressed my own ideas, my own values, my own way. I wrote every word, drew every line, and painted every color. It's a rare gift to find such fulfilling work and I tried to show my appreciation by giving the strip everything I had to offer."

Now this, this is what I wanna be able to say when I retire..... sigh!!!!!

The wisdom of Calvin

I am excited!!!!! Why wouldn't I, after treating myself with 2 volumes of Calvin and Hobbes????????????I just love the kid (Courtesy Bill Watterson).... Here's to quote him:

I made a big decision a little while ago.
I don't remember what it was,which prob'ly goes to show
That many times a simple choice can prove to be essential
Even though it often might appear inconsequential

I must have been distracted when I left my home because
Left or right I'm sure I went. (I wonder which it was!)
Anyway, I never veered: I walked in that direction
Utterly absorbed, it seems, in quite introspection.

For no reason I can think of, I've wandered far astray.
And that is how I got to where I find myself today.

Now, thats some wisdom!!!!!

Wisdom apart, its pure joy reading this comic..... Works every time I need some tickling of my senses....

US trying to patent Yoga aasnas... what the heck now???

http://in.news.yahoo.com/070517/211/6fxev.html


In this age of open source n GPL, some big time morons like this do exist!!!!

Sound of music

Florence Foster Jenkins..... Not many around the world know her; probably not even many of her own countrymen today......but once upon a time, she was a famous American soprano. Hers is a tale of faith, passion, love (of herself and her music) and a strong will. Jenkins was tone deaf!!! Yes, she could not hear the music like we do... she did not know that her pitch was not right. But love she did, to sing. She wanted to sing from a very early age. But her apparent lack of talent/ ability (!) made her parents to stop her from exploring any further. She was prohibited from taking music lessons. When her parents died, she inherited quite some wealth that gave her the freedom and opportunity to do something that she had been long yearning to do..... to pursue music. Later in her life (as late as 60 years) she made her public debut. Initially it was a small affair at the parties with friends... She was no better at the art even now. But her friends had fun at her cost.. They encouraged her for the pure entertainment. But Jenkins was convinced that she was a musical genius and that her audience loved her. She then hired an accompanist- a concert piano player, Cosme' McMoon. Though Cosme' was uncomfortable to play with her for apparent reasons, he agreed to do so for survival. There was no stopping Jenkins after that. She became a celebrity. Every one wanted to hear her. She made album records and sang at important occasions. To crown it all, she was invited to sing at the Carnegie Hall..... that was her masterpiece performance, if you could call it so.. The tickets were sold out weeks before and people were all excited. She entertained them.. they laughed at her.. they applauded to mask their laughter, they became hysterical...it was over. She died one month later.. but she died with a happy heart, happy of the music that she made. She never once doubted her talent and her ability to melt hearts.


Well, the story ends there. But I have questions; of the nature and attitude of people who heard her and applauded her. ...of their cruelty.. and of her naivety. Every person has a right to sing, to believe they are good at it and to be heard... I do not question that. But what kind of society would encourage a person with a lack of ability and have fun at her cost? What kind of society would make her believe that they were overjoyed while they were actually laughing at her and what kind of society would clap just to mask the laughter and ask for more???? Jenkins was a happy soul. So the question of her being affected doesn't arise. But the question is entirely of how cruel our society can get. We can make anybody a clown, put them in the ring and have fun. How long will it be until its our turn???
All this started with a play called souvenir. It was on the life of Foster Jenkins. The lady who played her part was brilliant... She got a standing ovation. Kudos to the team. This was the best ever. It made me appreciate certain things more subtle in life. Thanks to them for this realization.

For more on Jenkins click here

For more about the play click here

Marine Marvels

We went to the newport aquarium here a couple of weeks back. I used to have a fish bowl with a couple of small fishes back in the undergrad days. I was so attached to them, I cried like crazy when I had to leave them at the local aquarium before I returned home. I still miss them a lot!!! Those small blue fishes dancing around without a care in the world..... Anyways, given this background information, one should be able to imagine what a treat this visit to the aquarium should have been to me! I was thrilled to the core. Here are some pictures of the amazing sea life... enjoy!!!