Variety is the spice of life

There used to be a time, whenever I heard the term viral, would associate it with some infection. But nowadays the connotation has undergone a 3600 degree turn. People want to be viral and the more crowd you can attract, quicker are the bucks you get to earn. Latest to this list of viral “sense-less-ations” is one of the contestant from a tamil reality show. Recently his “army” created a tweet record, trending way above some of the critical events that were happening that day – like an actor’s audio launch and some less critical items like – global warming discussion. Did they do anything wrong? Technically and for all practical reasons – No. Everyone has a right to celebrate their idols and express their opinion. Basically, this freedom of expression (FoE) has become more of a foe than friend for general public. Everyone wants to express their opinion – like how I’ve been cribbing here – to the extent that, each believe for sure that their opinion is the best and more accurate repres...

We are in the midst of something big that is happening. Biblical prophecies around apocalypse sound more sensible than present times. Might sound like a starting line for some thriller novel or prophecy. But if you take a step back and have a careful look at day to day happenings, it would be surprising to miss out on these obvious situations. Should one call it as awakening or awareness, I am not sure. But more and more people are getting exposed to everything under the name of information. News channels, which ten years back would’ve been the sole proprietor of breaking news are facing a run for their controversy money, with anyone and everyone with a mobile phone and data pack, starting their own channel on You tube. You can be as stupid as possible, in fact, the more you tend towards the extreme side of the spectrum, the more famous and popular you become. Case in point being, Sam Anderson and Power star. One look at their videos, you would laugh off at their attempts. Second tim...

Of the handful of authors I follow, Sujatha is my favorite across languages. Though his books are only in tamil, his writing style is nonpareil, if one considers the timeline in which he published his stories. Being ahead of his time is something that sits lightly on him as his thought processes were always advanced. He is one of those authors who took to the concept of simplifying things and telling in a nutshell to a whole new level. He can talk about Chekov, Nabokov, Einstein , complex algorithms, tongue twister medicine, computers, hi-fi science fiction and human emotions everything at layman’s level and probably the frontrunner is bringing science fiction to tamil audience. In one of his advice/suggestions/recommendations, he has a ten point formula for leading life. The very first point is the basis behind this post. He states that, everyone should have a value system – an unshakable belief – something to hold on to. It can be god, your favorite hero/personality, nature, own s...

“Is your software racist” screamed a headline on a magazine link that I happened to visit from a blog. When I read the content, it was right out of nightmarish scenario, that is scripted on Hollywood sci-fi movies, where the machines take over the mantle from humans. But unlike the stories that find fault with AI going awry, this article, explores the reason why those mistakes could’ve happened in first place. After all, machines/robots are supposed to be subservient to humans and when they go against the very purpose of their creation, it raises lot of questions, which are bordering on moral or ethical while the answer is more of technical. To put it simply, the articles lays it all on bad coding!!! As simple as that. Calling it “bad coding”, might be trivializing the issue in a giant sweep. For the issue which the author infers is far more dangerous and something that is quite common place, even in this age of “politically correct” world – racism in other words. The example which p...

What is the starting point for identifying your passion? Does it start from childhood? Is it a matter of co-incidence that makes you stumble onto it? Or is it sheer fate that leads you to it? Even if you figure it out, how to start believing? Off late one question that rings in mind non-stop is on the topic of trust. How does people begin to trust whoever the other person maybe? To have trust in one's own abilities and backing themselves is a totally different aspect, over which at least we can have a semblance of control. But how or when does one start trusting another person? Does it start with the other person doing things on expected lines? Does it get strengthened in one’s ability to predict the reactions and responses of the other? What happens when the other person on whom you base your trust happens to be your spiritual guru?!! I got drawn into a conversation by accident that set the stream of questions raised above. It was between two of my colleagues who are also absolu...

Sometime back we got a call from one of our close relatives. Mom took the call and the person on the other side rambled on and on for over an hour. After the call mom was literally dazed and mentally felt very tired. The context of the call was pretty common, considering our present day society. The person who called, has both their sons in America. One is married and has just been blessed with a kid and for the other is fast approaching the expiry date of being an eligible bachlor. The family in India comprises of dad, mom and a bedridden grandma. The immediate parents of the onsite kids wants to stay in US of A till their elder son settles with the newborn and parallely check for brides for the younger one. A noble and quite normal intention nevertheless. But, the ailing granma is the roadblock here, for she can neither travel nor is fit enough to be left in India under anyones care. Her situation has reached a stage where in anyday could be her last. While the son with newborn...

Was reading   thalai's latest blog post on Scottish National party's whitewash of a triumph in UK elections and its potential fallout. To me it would've felt like just another stats, but thalai being thalai, pulled off a totally new view point (to me at least) on the fallout of the election. How the victory of over 95% majority can spell death knell to the concept of an "United" kingdom and can cause David Cameron to cry "Great Scott!!" for all different reasons. What if the Scotts declare freedom from English crown? Will they be able to thrive as an independent country or rush back to IMF or WB with a begging bowl to bail them out? Considering the examples of countries that have been split, like Bosnia, Serbia and the other lots prior to them, they don't have a glorious precedence to follow either. At times I wonder how can an entire country go bankrupt, just like that!!! When people stop paying taxes, when government doesn't get money to pay i...

Life pathi polambara post is never quite complete or doesnt quite begin without a thathuva quote on life itself :) So here goes nothing. Life is never a long winding straight road. Its always filled with crossroads and junctions and even if we want to go straight, there would be diversions or road blocks which would alter our course. At times willingly and many times unwillingly. The route may or may not be the one we would want or like initially. But almost always take you to where you want to go. Might sound like a lost man's riddle. But that's how my life has been all these years. At times, i consciously cut away from my comfort zones and try out something different just for the heck of it. But many a times, a sudden rapid or fall throws me off balance and by the time i steady the ship, the course is altered beyond return. Adapting to such sudden developments being the only hope have almost always been on the look out for incidents like that sound the bugle before. But God...

Kadamaiyai sei ... palanai ethiraapaaraathey...embutu easya solidrangapa. Nejathula follow panna evlo kashtama iruku. Result, adhuvum positive result, ethir paakaama ethachum vela seiya mudiyuma? En manasarinju ennaala mudiathupa. If at all i do something without bothering about result it would be halfhearted and would be of something i dont care much about. Aana any self help book or motivation theory u read end result is always towards detachment. Dont dwelve too much into anything. Athan main themea iruku. But what about passion. Being passionate drives you into doing things illaya. Without getting involved and without looking at the result how can one still be passionate in what he does?? may be thats where the learning is. All is well that ends well nu thaan solirukanga. Aana ethu endingnu yar decide panrathu?? Nallathaa nadanthuchuna ithu apply aagum. Apdi nallathu nadakalaina? its never endinga?? Inthe kelvikelam oru mudivay kedaiaathu nenakren. Still the search is never ending....