TaxBrain - Tax Refund Calculator

Friday, November 21, 2008

Screwball Comedies - the need of the hour ??


IT all started with It Happened One Night. Well, the classics died out pretty early. But, elements of the genre have persisted, or have been paid homage to, in contemporary film. Movies like "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days", or "I ♥ Huckabees" are potent stress busters. The fast-paced repartees and the slap-stick comedies along with a hint of courtship, is a sure win recipe for those who want to wind up the day in good humor. My recommendations are Two Weeks Notice, The Whole Nine Yards, Police Academy and its sequels etc. Do watch them and feel the difference to an otherwise mundane weekend !!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

White Chamber - An Interesting Game

I found this interesting game on-line. I am sure, on some time in your college, you would have played the earlier version of the game - ‘Crimson room‘. The new one, white chamber is even better. It will take more time then you initially expect. Some team effort might be really handy.

The game starts with you being locked in the white room. And you have to escape from the room with the things you will find in the room. That’s the main aim of the game.
Welcome to the White Chamber

You will need to lot of morse code typing to get yourself out. ;)

Spoiler: If you are so desperate and got caught some where in the room without clue, check here for the walk through.

Six Degrees of Separation


How many times you met some stranger and he turns out to be one of your friend’s friend or friend’s – friend’s friend? How many times you meet some one in airport or in rail journey and he turns out to be your school mate or college mate? Many of us might this kind of meetings most often.

So, this post is about the mystery behind such happenings.

The question we have now is – “Is it possible to know any given stranger through known people?”, if so, how many such people you need to know to know “the stranger?”. Hold your breath, the answer is a mere six. And that is the maximum number of people for that. That is, you need to know, exactly six people to know any one in the world.

You & A Stranger

Let me put it more specific. Consider a farmer in remote Chinese village. Now, you need find your way to get connected to him with six or less people. There are many examples for these in popular culture and mathematical culture.

Kevin Bacon number is one such very popularly known and discussed. Bacon acted as the famous scientist in “Hollow Man” movie. He once said, he can relate to any actor in the world.

In mathematics, Paul Erdos - a famous mathematician who collaborated with so many people and produced graph theoretical paper had a number named after him. It is known as Erdos number.

Erdos number - An example

Erdos number - An example

Now, how amazing is it? W don’t have a proof for this anyway.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I L P - Doesn't get better !!


This was supposed to be the best phase of one's IT life.,,, and IT WAS !!!!! OOdles of fun and noise and work and utter madness. The way the guys rushed here and there in perfect formals, the bravery and courage of North-Indians who adapted to the parottas and masaala dosas, the girls with entire gardens behind their heads, the faculties who commanded silence and respect, the zealous Techies who fought hard within themselves to finish assignments, and finally, the releasing day. Almost none of us escaped unscathed from the frivolous rebukes and teasing of faculties and friends alike. It was college after college, never leaving a moment for privacy and loneliness.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Raghu Dixit in Landmark, Chennai


The Indo-world-folk-rock sensation from Mysore. The music, to be frank, was euphoric, and was a seamless amalgamation of Indian ethnic music and sounds from around the planet.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008