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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

WOW-MOMENT !!!!!

Shekar Dattatri, Wildlife and Conservation Filmmaker, captured this with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 non SLR digital camera.
Tigers eat sloth bears, don’t they?

For more on him, click here

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Lux Aeterna

This is the YouTube link for the TATA Safari Commercial. Reclaim Your Life!

Requiem for a Dream
I dunno how many of u have seen the TV commercial for the TATA Safari Dicor ad. One thing s for sure, the soundtrack is ideally suited for the visuals. Colin Mansell's score was his follow-up to the score he composed for Aronofsky's first film, pi, and has since become a cult hit. The music isnotable for its use of sharp, often staccato 'un-vibrato-ed' string instruments to create a cold and discomforting sound from instruments frequently used for their warmth and softness. Kronos Quartet, the string quartet founded by David Harrington, performed the soundtrack Lux Aeterna (eternal light in Latin ). The theme was reorchestrated for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers trailer and is known by the name "Requiem for a Tower".

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

This too shall pass.....


I have put up a negative title. But, this seems nearer to reality and practicality than the slogans, jingoism and homages ! Heads have started rolling. The politicians, even though cautious of public outrage, have begun their blame games. The Men-in-Black(NSG), the regular khakhis and the 'Marcos'(Marine Commandos) were real heroes and it was a job well done.

Well, is it the time to blame anyone ? yes, without doubt some of the authorities were lax ( Navy chief, Mah CM, etc have all admitted to lack of preparation for this kinda havoc !). But still, one needs to realize, that India is (and will be) , a soft target. George Bush may have been ridiculed to a huge extent over his handling of Iraq and 9/11. But, he hasn't let his country fall prey to another such attack, over the past seven years. Should the Indian heads adopt this attitude and bomb the hell out of terrorist areas ? Only time and results can tell. But, there is a big challenge for India. Economic crisis, and terrorist attacks make a deadly combo. Lets stand together, its not one party, one religion, one state issue. Lets give one more chance to the leaders to prove their mettle. Last, but not the least, JAI HIND.

Chennai does a Venice !!

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