They say sex sells, on the contrary religion sells the most and still it is not recognized as it is somewhat not thought of as along the same lines. The church/mosque/temple is the biggest grosser of them all. The reason is that they say the money is for a cause. The only cause, as I see, worth contributing hard earned money can be humanitarian and not Christian, Islamic or Hindu. These funds are destined to be misused either in a bad way (Jehad) or at best spent on furthering the religion's popularity. I would call this as a misuse as well - because converting people from one religion to another which is the ultimate goal achieved/intended is not worth zilch to the cause of humanity.
Let us try and estimate how the religions came into existence The God(s) have never made a public appearance (or i missed one great show), well at least not one for the past millenium or two. The only evidence we have is books, scriptures that tell us a story. Now how are we to believe that the story is a historical one and not just another fantasy tale. We can't , and even this simplistic demand for reason and logic is seen as a form of develish impertinence & blasphemy. Were you to be told that your meeting is not to be held as earlier decided, wouldn't you ask for a reason? If such a simple thing breds a need for reason why should a man's need for reason in what is supposed to influence his thinking, his society and very much everything in his life ; be questioned.
I have been an agnostic since before I knew what the word meant- moving over to my birth religion on increasingly rare occasions ,chiefly in periods of despair ( or extreme happiness). It's something of a weakness, I am not ashamed to admit that I have been weak at times. But does that make me a falsifier? Quite on the contrary I believe it makes my believe in non-utility of religion more tangible. It clearly shows that man doesn't really need it, if he is strong enough in character. The more relentless advertising we see on behalf of every religion the more it makes me sure that it's a fake necessity. Our reliance of it is somewhat similar to our addiction to other best marketed products that we see advertised around us - like colas etc.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Competition
We know that the outlook one has is very important in what he becomes. That is true for nations as well. We see the US as a very developed/prosperous country. But why did it come by being so successful... Competition.. Thats what it was blessed with... it took to competing with Russia and Russia took US to great heights while it itself kept moving down. Come to India.. we are very happy and pumped up that India is progressing blah blah.. but is it real progress.. well the world is progressing and as circumstances would have it India is so strategically placed that it's man power is taking it to rise at a pace slighty above the world average.But do we have competition. We tend to compete with Pakistan - that's the enemy state. Well an unworthy opponent is a good way of defeating yourself. If instead we look towards competiting with China and let Pakistan burn in the fire they have light themselves.. !N if they keep pestering us we know its no more than a fly for India if we truly use the force that we have. !
Saturday, October 25, 2008
JEHAD
Jehad an Islamic term, is a religious duty of muslims. But come today it has gone to mean a mask to cover all despicable acts in the name of religion. Can we help hating the religion that has come to be recognized as the mascot of terrorism. It may sound very much discriminating but if you look at the sort of events happening of late we cannot close our eyes to the fact that more than 95% of terrorism is undeniably 'jehad'. If the religion teaches it's people to destrop the world shouldn't the world join as one and eliminate this nuisance of a teaching. There may be many that say Kuran does not teach this or that people are bending it for their own use and misguiding. But I say hell with it. Do you think that your hand is not spreading poison intentionally .. if it poisoning your body however tough the decision maybe you will always decide to chop it off. And that is what needs to be done. The problem is a religion is not as easy to chop off as a hand of a poor man. There are all sorts of compassionate issues involved and humanity bites us. But if we want the world to live we need to eliminate muslim or at least let them know that they will be eliminated if they continue to thread this unbelievingly ruthless way of destroying the world they themselves live in. We may at least seal off all support to any country that is a declared islamic nation. For instance bleed them economically starve them and isolate them. And well if you decide to thread this path i m sure there is enough way to get the thing done once the world leaders sit on this with their manipulative minds set on this! :D
Monday, September 22, 2008
THE FLASK OF LIFE
Life can be seen as a flask with the water in it a measure of our immaturity. We begin life with our flasks full - ever so innocent. Every deception we encounter, every emotional dent and every bad experience in life is a dent n the flask which leads to the water leaking hence decreasing our immaturity. But the love and selfless love is the rain that refills our flask. The aim in life is to have a half full flask, not completely full to senseless immaturity and neither empty that would be of a emotionally empty person.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sports In India
Everytime some international sporting event takes place India stands behind in the long queue abashed. And we the 'patriotic' Indians start out blaming the government and the system for the deplorable conditions of sports here. But what do we do if some one really perform at the center stage? We give the individual cash prizes and endorsement deals. Make him a superstar. But how exactly does that help sports in the country - if that's what the prizes are for. Or is the prize just a lottery for being one of the thousands gifted one who can achieve something even after being held back by the lack of facilities. Wouldn't we be better to give him funds to achieve better results.. sponsoring for a coach et al. Another fact that is sad is the lack of sight with people in anything beyond cricket. We may raise a hue and cry over the lack of results but what do we do where indians do get something. India has some hold in chess and billiards for instance. chess being an intelligent game it is somewhat understandable that the people do not really make it one of the most popular ones. But billiards.. amazing is the fact that in the last world championship the top 4 finishing individuals were all Indians. But still there is no interest in the sport. Is it just that we want people to get medals in our country's name so that we can snub the game for not being cricket ?!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Ta ta to growth
What the hell is the matter with bengal. Bengal takes pride in it's glorious past and is making sure that it's future son's n daughters will have nothing else to do either. They are so hell bent on preventing anyone do anything productive that we feel like giving them recognition for being unbiased at least. The fact that a sizeable portion of the citizen give credence to the hails of a mad /manipulative out of work woman is a pity. The fact remains that in order to make a factory industrialist need land and lets face it - it's a necessary evil .. we cant do without these factories. But it does not mean that all is fair.. no the farmers have every right to demand better compensation for their homes/land. So protest for that . demand better. a more fair compensation. Democracy is a thing that when overused can only give diarrhea to the nation. When the majority of people have given in to the proposal the so called messiah of the oppressed may come in and help them get a better deal. But thats not the intention here. All she wants ,as any other politician (who can blame her if the people here are that much more dumber) is to get political points. So she comes in and says that the tata pack their bags and leave the poor ole farmers to tile their lands. But then why are CMs of 10 other states unabatedly waiting with garlands in their hands ??? Its not that these CM are ideal politicians or some such extinct species. Simple the people elsewhere are more sensible today and their success is more dependent on the goods they deliver. So a simple solution to to a chunk of the problems in here is that the voters become a bit sensible.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
What's the difference between a man and a machine
Listing out the present comparison vis-a-vis the man and the machine is not the theme here. What i m hinting at is the fundamental difference the psychology if you may. The present machine is better at some stuff and the man is better at some (mostly the mushy stuff.. drawing a parallel with the comparison of male v/s female) But the thing is that whatever the deficiencies of machine is right now..there are enough people working at them to have them sorted out in the near future. Then what .. machines will be the master a la 'The Matrix'. Not quite - the human mind is revolving at a fast pace as well ... we may think that the pace evolution is akin to that of a snail... We it is not . The difference in awareness and intellectual/knowledge levels among the kids today and the one before them is fairly noteworthy. So the main question was what is so different in the man and the machine. The man may be weak physically, slow mentally and vulnerable in an array of ways. But the thing is that the human mind is a tortoise .. slow and steady ..it has the capability to think beyond the means presented to him ... something that no machine however advanced can. The human mind may be slow that it needs more time to add simple numbers but it sure can devise a way to get the job done. The human mind on its own may come out a bit weak but coupled with a bit of spirit it can work wonders. The adrenaline factor is one that only makes us do the impossible. The machine on the other hand will shut off faced with an impossible task !
The World Today
We have learned to look the other way when something wrong happens in front of us or even to us and our loved ones. We are helpless we believe. But if such is the case .. when all of us are helpless, then why is the human such hyped to be such a mighty one? Life today is not really about living rather on surviving. Living is when you feel good about yourself, the world you live in. Rather survival is what we are doing. We have ensconced so to say in this world of corruption, lies and violence but that is not we can ever be comfortable with ever. We follow not the principle of right being always right but try to survive with all our might. The terrorism that we have witnessed growing over the past 10-15 years the world over - well there is no solution in sight. Many of us may believe in the fantasy that almost all sci-fi authors portray - the near demise of human race and from the brink the rise of a perfect society free of violence and with peace loving sensible denizens. Seeing the recent events i have realized this is just hoping for the sake of hope. We hope that this violence will peak one day and soon it will be finished.. just like we hope some guy in a lab suit will get a solution for the cancer and AIDS.. Well humans are not as easy as viruses. As long as there are people on the lower stratum of society and a few manipulative men ..there will be enough issues to keep the terror race running.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Why valiant effort?
There are some people who really try hard at digging out the truth behind the existence of human life and all related questions. But most of the populace tend to ignore the burning doubts and live on in bliss - ignoring all that is unknown. Well we know for sure that there can be no absolute and indisputable answer to our doubts .. basically nothing credible can be established in this matter. Why we exist, does God exist ..if yes then which one.. et cetra.. So the question now is - whether we should rather leave these doubts and go on in life or keep on shoving the plastic shovel on the rock of doubts.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Power of Love vis-a-vis Power of Hate
love and hate are the major 2 emotions of the human psyche.. together they are responsible for almost all of our decisions... but which is more powerful.. it's quite hard resisting the temptation to say it's love that rules... but well the answer i believe is both. it depends on the person.. it all depends on what you want to be. hate can be a mean brute force that compels you to work hard to achieve your goal and to reach new heights. You may harm some people in the way..but that is just what you are. Love.. well the power of love is insurmountable..people can achieve the impossible for love. On the other hand hate can destroy you and the object of your affection alike. Similarly love may sometimes be more of a chain on the legs of a bird flapping it wings to fly ..in vain.!
So the question I believe is not the driving force but the result - the output that comes from it.
Love is good if you can love well and same is true for hate.
So the question I believe is not the driving force but the result - the output that comes from it.
Love is good if you can love well and same is true for hate.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Family Love
How can anyone be expected to love everyone leave alone everyone loving everyone. That's what the family is about. That why I find it amazing how the system still works. In the subdued world it was quite easier to work - but now with the people gaining more freedom of opinion and voicing their choices. Still there are functional extended families in existence today. Why/How does that happen? This questions stumps me.. if you think you know the answer do let me know..
Friday, July 11, 2008
Agnostics n Buddhism
Buddhism is the only major religion founded by a non super human being. By a great though common man (though the powers that be cannot let that be and have called him the 9th incarnation of Vishnu..). What we do not realize is that this may perhaps be the only pure religion unadulterated (well least adulterated at least) by individualistic propaganda, unlike all other. This is why it makes more sense to the thinking person and less to the multitude of ignorant public. As I see it, it speaks more of compassion, truthfulness and inner power. The implementation of the ideals may still not find favor with many people today but not many can deny the ideals it opinionated. What is somewhat sad is that Buddha the man who taught the strength and greatness inside each man and they philosophy has been made into a religion with ground rules. Well as Buddha suggested listening to the rule of conscious was the only rule required. Well i find the ideals quite close to the ideal of the Agnostics. They do not care about some important debatable matters (like who's God best) and rather tend to listen to whatever their heart tells is the right thing to do.
Agnostics
I just read "The Life of Pi". The author blasts agnostics as choosing doubt as a philosophy of life. Hmm sounds pretty heavy and correct, does it? Well he is wrong.. Agnosticism is not reliance or holding on to doubt. It's about the lack of care for matters that we do not think are important just because the whole world is crazy about it.~ If we lingered on thinking whether God exists - something like he loves me , he loves me not, then I suppose we would certainly deserve to be lambasted by any author worth his typewriter.
Selective thinking
What is selective thinking. Well it's when you listen to only one side of the brain - the one that strokes your ego, gives you false hope and/or vindication. But thinking of any sort is good right? Well not really - a dumb (or non thinking) person lets harm befall him by inaction of his brain - till the situation arises he is happy and oblivious to any trouble. Thinking helps us avoid or rather best face the difficulties. Selective thinking on the other hand is dragging yourself down the drain faster than the world or your enemy meant to. So if you can't think at least stop selective thinking.
Greed = Progress?
Ours is a number oriented society. Success is evaluated on numbers and your worth as a human is evaluated on your success. So basically there is a mad scramble to capture as much as possible. Each hand grabbing the limited opportunities. This greed for more is not seen as what it is - it is rather seen as a good thing i.e. ambition zeal to succeed. Well it is always good to see people trying to achieve something. But instead of seeing only that, the society needs to see the means to for achievement and the intentions for the same. If you can achieve success without jumping to the other side of moral correctness and with an non malignant intention - thumbs up to you. Otherwise you have messed up your successes and made them useless.
India a Superpower ?
We have always been told about India's glorious past and admit it or not there is a trickle of disappointment what with the west taking over. But with the developments going on here we are told that India is the force to reckon with and will soon be becoming the superpower by (opinions differ on this) 2050. Well nice to hope for the future - the optimistic way - but lets get out of the bubble and see reality in the naked. The country is seeing new developments like never before. Investments keep poring in and the Indians are getting richer, more educated and enjoying a better standard of living. What else can we hope for - well maintaining our identity for one. The development is coming at a tremendous cost that of our identity. The Indian touch is getting lost. We no longer have any knowledge of what we are but have become good at aping the west. Doesn't do our vanity any good knowing that we are at best being west clones. China has not left it's identity and so progress has been delayed a bit - but when the time comes for a new power - expect China to be a safer bet than India. Though the progress of China is being restricted initially by their defiance on adapting english language and in other western ways but they are moving ahead on their strengths and they are not at the mercy of any one in aiding their progress - thats something India cannot say.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
ePAPER
This is a new concept under rigorous research these days by major electronics companies. What this envisions is making use of molecule to make visual patterns.. Ever wondered what is happening with so many people with spectacles these days. This is a direct result of the current display technology - TV or computer screen let us read/see stuff by light from a artificial light source. Now this ePaper thing is the best alternate to this possible. What it means is that the display made by this is just like a paper in the way in which light comes to you. There is no illumination source. The light that falls on every object is what is reflected and lets you see the display, What this means is that the next generation will be chiefly spectacles free.
How it works. Well the display needs to display a message. Now the screen is divided into pixels as in any other display. This message that we want to display can be made by joining dots made by arrangements of black and white on the pixels. Once we get the pattern, the problem lies in how to make the pattern in that color. The answer is in some special chemical characteristics. The front side is colored black and the back is white. These chemical molecules form the pixel and chemicals are turned in a way that the effect is the display of the message. Now basic ebook readers on the technology are out on the market for a while. The next step is obviously color. This is also at a good stage. We can extend the technology to colors by using three chemicals displaying blue, red & green. Now the next step is display rate. The rate here at present is more suitable for reading texts and other static data as the refresh rate is not adequate. We need to get the refresh rate to enough so that video display is possible. That's the day you break your specs. On second thought you will still need them - just the next generation won't.
How it works. Well the display needs to display a message. Now the screen is divided into pixels as in any other display. This message that we want to display can be made by joining dots made by arrangements of black and white on the pixels. Once we get the pattern, the problem lies in how to make the pattern in that color. The answer is in some special chemical characteristics. The front side is colored black and the back is white. These chemical molecules form the pixel and chemicals are turned in a way that the effect is the display of the message. Now basic ebook readers on the technology are out on the market for a while. The next step is obviously color. This is also at a good stage. We can extend the technology to colors by using three chemicals displaying blue, red & green. Now the next step is display rate. The rate here at present is more suitable for reading texts and other static data as the refresh rate is not adequate. We need to get the refresh rate to enough so that video display is possible. That's the day you break your specs. On second thought you will still need them - just the next generation won't.
The Old v/s the New
Ever felt inferior to something or someone ? Well I am as a human being.. The old generation is more close to what a human was supposed to be like. I know there can be no definition of a human brought in if it's humanity's characteristics that themselves are being debated upon. Well but we definitely can define what human race was meant to be. The human race was the most intelligent species from the beginning of it's existence. So basically achieving intelligence was not the principle goal it was after - already being richly endowed. What humans didn't have was passion, brotherhood and emotions. This is what civilization has taught the race over the years. As progress is the goal of any object living or dead (manifest this progress in whichever way as may seem suitable) so this new discovery of brotherhood compassion and passion was the way to humanity's goal. But we see today that the goal has been forgotten - the only goal today is to be better. We want better than what we have - better than ever. Humans today are more like machines than ever - of course we find the comparison to machines absurd because in our evolution machines have also evolved and we see no likeness in us. We aren't there yet, but what about the future - as the way things are turning out to be we will become more mechanical in the choices we make in life, emotion is being stifled within our hearts as we gain more intellect, sense and knowledge. Knowledge that helps us rule the world. But the knowledge that at the same time has deprived us the mastership of our own souls !
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Book Review Chariots of Gods - Erick von Daniken Part II
(..continued)
Ever wondered about ancient calendars? The modern science with astronomical observations and knowledge was developed mainly in the last century or so. The ancient civilizations somehow had their own means of knowing their stars. The calendars by every civilization had 12 months. It is understood that a year is a standard period of time as the earth makes one complete revolution and different civilization may have independently come to the same standard. But why 12 months? Lunar calendars make sense of 12 months as they correspond to 12 rotations of the moon about the earth. But what about others. they somehow chose to divide a year in the same 12 parts .! Also we see that the stories in the myths sometimes draw a lot in common in different civilizations - plagiarism ?! The Noah of ark is the Manu in Hindu myth. Moses receiving knowledge from God in a mountain and Prophet receiving his set of rules from Allah.. The birth and life of Jesus and Horus of Egyptian myth is almost exactly similar if you discount the names and places....Well there are loads of similar examples given in the book. They basically seem to point to one explanation. Have you wondered how all children seem to know rhymes like Baba black sheep, Old man Donald etc.. well they are the standard rhymes taught in schools across the world. Well the myths that we now regard as ancient history may well be stories that the aliens brought with them (which may or may not actually be true in their home planet) and taught them to different tribes that they were with. The tribes relying mainly on memory made certain twists in these stories and the end product came out to be 90% same and 10% local touch. !
(to be continued ...)
Ever wondered about ancient calendars? The modern science with astronomical observations and knowledge was developed mainly in the last century or so. The ancient civilizations somehow had their own means of knowing their stars. The calendars by every civilization had 12 months. It is understood that a year is a standard period of time as the earth makes one complete revolution and different civilization may have independently come to the same standard. But why 12 months? Lunar calendars make sense of 12 months as they correspond to 12 rotations of the moon about the earth. But what about others. they somehow chose to divide a year in the same 12 parts .! Also we see that the stories in the myths sometimes draw a lot in common in different civilizations - plagiarism ?! The Noah of ark is the Manu in Hindu myth. Moses receiving knowledge from God in a mountain and Prophet receiving his set of rules from Allah.. The birth and life of Jesus and Horus of Egyptian myth is almost exactly similar if you discount the names and places....Well there are loads of similar examples given in the book. They basically seem to point to one explanation. Have you wondered how all children seem to know rhymes like Baba black sheep, Old man Donald etc.. well they are the standard rhymes taught in schools across the world. Well the myths that we now regard as ancient history may well be stories that the aliens brought with them (which may or may not actually be true in their home planet) and taught them to different tribes that they were with. The tribes relying mainly on memory made certain twists in these stories and the end product came out to be 90% same and 10% local touch. !
(to be continued ...)
CONSPIRACY GONE TOO FAR ?
There are now loads of material that expose glaring proofs of conspiracies and if they are to be believed almost all the men in power have sold their soul to some shady characters .. but what i do not understand is what goal do these shady characters have. They as we are told aim to eventually enslave the whole race - but that certainly is not going to happen in a hurry at least the work of fleecing 6 billion people is not to be accomplished in one person's lifetime. So are these people very kind fathers who are chalking out an empire of slaves for their children and descendants ? I do not think so.. The temptation to uncover a major scandal has made these conspiracy theorists to go to senseless lengths... After all they are also attention whore as are the politicians . the only difference is these have no power .. !~
CANCER A GONER SOON?
Good news - cancer may soon be conquered. Ya there have been treatments before and they mostly resulted in relapses. Also there have been news of wonder drugs by the dozen that have claimed to cure cancer - but that was mostly quack stuff. Now science has finally won the first battle against the disease. Scientists in UK have managed to cure a patient of skin cancer (with no relapses) by grafting immune cells that fight the cancer cell in a petri dish. They cloned these immune cells which were far too less in the patients body and released them in numbers large enough to fight off the cancer cells and eventually clear the cancer growth from the patient. Other than the patient and his pals others can be happy at this because the cure was not a one time lucky thing - this is the gaining of a foot hold in the battle. The success of the cure gives us the direction to proceed!! The answer has been found.
DIVIDE AND RULE - THE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Has it ever occurred to you that what religion, patriotism, wealth and colonialism have in common. It's divide and rule. The same policy has worked for the things people most vehemently support and for the things people most disgustingly hate. The reason perhaps is that the same people are behind all of these and rather colonialism is a much more honest effort as it show's the evil in it out in the open while each of these other efforts seek mind control of the general public as means to accomplish their goals.
The easiest way to defeat an individual is to make him lose confidence, doubt his every action and that of his fellow people and make him conscious of the world around him. This is what exactly what the modern world has made man into. Why has the world suddenly become a bad bad place infested with bad elements..? The only reason is that propagandists have managed to succeed unhindered. The massive conspiracy against mankind itself .. !
The easiest way to defeat an individual is to make him lose confidence, doubt his every action and that of his fellow people and make him conscious of the world around him. This is what exactly what the modern world has made man into. Why has the world suddenly become a bad bad place infested with bad elements..? The only reason is that propagandists have managed to succeed unhindered. The massive conspiracy against mankind itself .. !
LOGIC OF AN AGNOSTIC
So my take on this whole religion issue is that of a hardcore agnostic. We hardly are affected by whether the story is true or false .. if and only if we stop caring about it. Else we risk making a fool of ourselves by a bunch of very clever people - Which may the religious leaders or atheist propaganda pushers. So what seems more logical is to not indulge in speculation and go on to live your life and do yourself some good. Not believing religion to be fake will not make you ignorant. And not believing in religion will not make you immoral. What will make you immoral is the deeds that you do. Just consider that XYZ is the true religion - it has the real God etc ..if we do not accept this and go on with our life, what will be the consequence. Ever heard of an honest man who does not indulge in sycophancy ? well that is what you will be... you do not need to lick the boot of God even if he exists.. Make ample use of the life provided to you to do good to yourself, your family and others if possible. Well sure religion as a whole gives instructions which are considered to help you towards goodness ( but that is not for sure in all cases.. religious fanatics are there to prove this wrong) but that does not mean that you can't do it on your own. It's something like the private tuition mania today - the child can learn on his own given the opportunity to experiment. So can you find your own conscious and morality if only you go out and experiment and not rely on the theological rules that chain you rather than free you. Experience the freedom of being an agnostic - the freedom of deciding your own right and wrong ! You are your own God.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
GOOD GETS PUNISHED HERE
No good deed goes unpunished.. never thought it could ever be used for a politician - but seems like our dear PM is such a poor poor fellow who is getting marginalized for doing his job with the determination and grit that any post-1990 PM ever has. Though he may not have the clout, the free hand that might be needed for the job but he still has managed to do a decent job for over 4 years. What is admirable is that he has maintained his views and fought (alas in vain) for his ideas - a battle he knew there was no winning. The nuclear deal is one thing he has been very enthusiastic about. But the CPM has managed to keep the deal from happening till date and threatens to pull down the government in case it goes ahead. The fact that CPM is opposed to taking an initiative is an understatement - in fact they come out with full force against any one who attempts to take a step forward. Any argument against this opinion falls flat in the face of the situation in west bengal. The rising of petrol prices that PM managed to coerce everyone into agreeing is the final blow that will see the government being routed in the next round of elections. So the government is bad/incapable because the world economy is in turmoil ??! When will Indians grow up to be sensible and not act like children. Mommy didn't buy me chocolate - she is bad!! Kind of funny is that China has today announced a hike of 16-18% in fuel prices .. much larger than the Indian hike. Though economics is not my area but even a baboon can see that when prices are pointing to the north pole any measure that can bring down demand will indeed help. And the fuel price hike by the two most populous nations is indeed an immensely helpful step. Perhaps other countries may follow suit. !
Book Review: Nightfall - Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov - never heard the name, well most people haven't. He is perhaps the Shakespeare of sci-fi only not so famous. The whole robot concept is his idea. The three laws and everything have been so perfectly imagined that it can almost be said that Asimov either knows to travel in time or has somehow managed to write a manual for the scientist to work on development ! Anyways amongst Asimov's works Nightfall is considered the best. It is the story of a planet with 6 suns. The people have never been without sun light their entire life and the most dreadful thing they can imagine is to be in darkness. Well there is a eclipse that occurs every 2000 years that somehow manages to keep the planet in darkness for hours. This destroys the perfect world - the sanity of people is destroyed and most go back to being cave men. The way in which the human psyche has been presented in this work is simply amazing - to imagine a world quite so different from ours and being able to see the differences that will occur in such altered conditions is a most difficult task that Asimov has managed better than anyone of us can hope for.
Friday, June 20, 2008
VIRTUALIZATION
Latest buzzword doing circles these days. Well it deserves all the attention. It's a wonderful new technique. What is entails is make your desktop with the operating system installation/files and settings as a single file which may be accessed at any terminal within the network. The central server allows you to create virtual machines. In these machines the good thing is they can be accessed from terminal having any physical configuration (to a limit). So what's the use of this. Well the easy migration removes the down time to almost zero Once your terminal has any technical difficulties you just switch to a new. While for this we generally need a redundancy plan to survive any technical problems - here a few standby terminals do the same work. Also a single machine runs a single operating system in a simple PC. So we need say 20 terminals for 20 operations. But in case of a virtual machine concept we can have the same operations in about 6-8 terminals. A terminal generally has an average 20% usage and a peak of 50%. But all operations do not show peak usage at the same time. So we put 3-4 operations in each terminal. When any process seems to show peak usage some process is shifted to another terminal which is under lower stress. Thus we have maximum utilization of resources. The hardware and power cost savings are considerable. This is more prominent is data warehousing units. The efficiency levels can be boosted by up-to 40-50%
Book review: Chariots of GOD? - Erick von Daniken Part I
It's a very famous book from the 80s - also a rather esoteric theoretical book presenting revolutionary ideas with sensible and very logical points. The central idea is that human development was aided by more advanced aliens. The possibility of finding life on other planets is not debated against - rather whether we can find them or not is. Ever wondered why the ancient people have glimmers of technology that are yet not development by our modern science. For example the Ashoka pillar in delhi which has not rusted even after thousands of years, or how did egyptians manage to build monstrous pyramid when they had no modern machines or about the technology of the Incas. One explanation given here is that aliens made all these wonderful marvels on earth and taught them to humans but we have lost them now. Same with techniques of combat like karate. The techniques were not easy for earlier civilizations to have discovered - they couldn't even properly use it. Aliens landed on earth in their space-crafts which the rustic people took to be magnificent creatures and on receiving their guidance/kindness praised them as gods. The 'gods' mated with the humans and they have half gods or humans with advanced genes which helped mankind evolve into a more developed species. These half gods were sent to further breed and help advance the evolution of humans by centuries. They were to be made kings of sorts and control the people as they had superior genes. The mythology stories quote things like a Brahmastra in the repertoire of Arjuna (who was a god son) - couldn't it easily have been a nuclear weapon of the most advanced kind. The fact that an arrow fired by him became 10-20 arrows could suggest a splinter bomb type of arm. The fact that Arjun never missed a shot could be more attributed to his target lock gun. The solar eclipse by Krishna may have been a covering of the sun by the gigantic ship at the behest of the commander aka Krishna. The story of god sons - the five pandavas points to interbreeding between gods and humans. They were sent there to rule and guide the development of the humans. Thats what pandavas actually did. The book states such and more logical examples from each and every civilization and mythologies. The whole concept of different religions is another big fallacy. How could the world have been created by the gods of each religion - God the father from Christianity, Allah and the Brahma and others all involved in building the earth. If gods are such good buddies why are religions fighting. And if it was the work of a single god are 3-4 billion people wrong ?? Well more interesting is the possibility that each of these gods are the leaders of the squads sent to each region. One to the middle east, one in india and one in europe were probably the best squads - that why their religions are the most famous now.
(to be continued)
(to be continued)
Reservation Raj
So Rajasthan government shows that it's as useless as we thought it was and more. After a month long standoff the Gujjar have prevailed. Their demand - inclusion of Gujjar in the ST category giving them a 5% reservation in education/government jobs. Well seeing the power they seem to wield any one but them deserve a reservation quota (if such a quota ever made any sense). First of all let us think why are such quotos supposed to be in existence. They were created long time back during 1950s when the weaker sections needed encouragement to come up. Well it made some sense back then. They were supposed to be slowly phased out as the communities grabbed the opportunities such provided and gained a place in the society. Well rather than phasing them out our ever profiteering politicians realized they had a gold mine in here. Promise a ticket to this pampering quota and get the whole communities votes. Who cares whether what the consequences will be - it won't be there to haunt him within his 5 year term for sure. Well such being the principles of our 'leaders' the country boasts of almost 50% quota now. And if (rather when) the gujjar demands are met the quota may climb upto 68% !!! Well the only message that the government is sending to the poor general folks out there is that they dont need us. General category people have enjoyed too much of India so far and now they either hand over india to sc/st or better still leave India !
Reservation basically means to put in some folk based on their community. But wait a second - that strangely sounds more and more like discrimination - only difference is discrimination is targeted against a specific set of people and reservation is targeted against all sets of people other than the SC/ST. While the need to encourage the weaker sections cannot be argued against, the methods can be. Well, is putting 10 people in IIT for example help the community or providing free education to 100 children at the primary and secondary level ?? For once politicians (who btw are the best mathematicians around) have grabbed the wrong line in the numbers game. Give the poor kids an incentive to study and let the general people ( who have actually build the india as we know it) enjoy the fruits of their labor. Rather than playing robinhood teach communities to share.! God.. this is so sounding like a lesson in primary school - but guess most folks in parliament have never been there ..!!
Reservation basically means to put in some folk based on their community. But wait a second - that strangely sounds more and more like discrimination - only difference is discrimination is targeted against a specific set of people and reservation is targeted against all sets of people other than the SC/ST. While the need to encourage the weaker sections cannot be argued against, the methods can be. Well, is putting 10 people in IIT for example help the community or providing free education to 100 children at the primary and secondary level ?? For once politicians (who btw are the best mathematicians around) have grabbed the wrong line in the numbers game. Give the poor kids an incentive to study and let the general people ( who have actually build the india as we know it) enjoy the fruits of their labor. Rather than playing robinhood teach communities to share.! God.. this is so sounding like a lesson in primary school - but guess most folks in parliament have never been there ..!!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
PROGRESS
It's only natural that we wish to move up a few notches from where we begin with... progress is but natural . but then what is special in that? Special is the guy who begins from the bottom and still has the guts to dream about reaching the top deserves to be called something. So does that mean that greatness is the birth right of the underprivileged? Well not really because there is no limit at the top .. sky does not really have a roof does it !!However high you begin with you still have room to take a big jump. The only reason that the sky is limitless is so that you are never short of dreams come what may.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
DYNASTIC DEMOCRACY v/s MONARCHY
The fact that dynastic politics still exist in India .. makes me rethink about the whole democracy thing..maybe Indians do not deserve / want democracy.. sounds insulting right.. well it should because such is the state of affairs..
So so many are willingly ready to lay their loyalties in the feet of their leaders' families..also we all know that the person in power will definitely abuse his power (unless he is a bollywood hero) to get the best of stuff for his folk.. and yes lots of money..but why do we hate the idea of monarchy ??
the ruler attains power by hereditary.. then monarch abuse their power unhindered..he is not answerable to anyone for his actions
wat else ..he takes in money by taxes and lavishly spends it .. nothing else coming to my mind..oh he may not have the capability to rum the country.. well it's better if capabilities of our MPs and ministers are left unevaluated...
well what among these is different with democracy w.r.t India..inheritance is given .. too many examples ..
about abuse of power.. well believe u me there is not a crime that a politician will not get his folks off for...should someone ever dare to catch him..
about the money.. well there is limit to money one can spend.. but when you start hoarding ..there's no limit.. tat way politicians though may sometimes not be able to spend millions in public ..but end up siphoning off and hoarding billions .
Basically as i see it democracy is just a veil of respectability that the common man buys at a huge price to feel better !!
So so many are willingly ready to lay their loyalties in the feet of their leaders' families..also we all know that the person in power will definitely abuse his power (unless he is a bollywood hero) to get the best of stuff for his folk.. and yes lots of money..but why do we hate the idea of monarchy ??
the ruler attains power by hereditary.. then monarch abuse their power unhindered..he is not answerable to anyone for his actions
wat else ..he takes in money by taxes and lavishly spends it .. nothing else coming to my mind..oh he may not have the capability to rum the country.. well it's better if capabilities of our MPs and ministers are left unevaluated...
well what among these is different with democracy w.r.t India..inheritance is given .. too many examples ..
about abuse of power.. well believe u me there is not a crime that a politician will not get his folks off for...should someone ever dare to catch him..
about the money.. well there is limit to money one can spend.. but when you start hoarding ..there's no limit.. tat way politicians though may sometimes not be able to spend millions in public ..but end up siphoning off and hoarding billions .
Basically as i see it democracy is just a veil of respectability that the common man buys at a huge price to feel better !!
MEANING OF LIFE?
What is the meaning of life? Why are we always fighting the world to be alive. Maybe not always literally but to gather the necessities and after that the luxuries. Why all this when you know where you are going to end up. What does all this add up to - we do not take anything with us to wherever we go after life. Why not make the time we are given on this earth count for something other than this fake race to get everything. Why go for fleeting things when you can do something that stays with you forever. Your good deeds, even the smallest deed that you do without any self interest in it will always be with you. This is the way you can stay alive even after your body is no more, a smile that you bring to the face of another man in suffering will give you something that even the most lavishly living people can never experience - a feeling of having achieved something.
WHY IS LOVE SO?
If love is the most beautiful thing in our life then why is the thing we know least about. how is it that it makes even the most surefooted person confused? why is it difficult for us to know what love is? is the language we speak so inadequate that love can not even be defined in it? why does it give so much pain, why does it make you feel so helpless so powerless. specially when you can not come out with your love. the problem as i see it here is that people do not realise how much they are lucky to have someone to love them. they make not share the same love but they can respect the person who loves them so dearly. but the usual response people give is cutting off their old friendship as well if they don't share the same feelings.
Is there a answer to the pain of love? Or is it supposed to hurt? But the pain is nothing compared to the happiness it fills you with - it makes you realise who you are.
Is there a answer to the pain of love? Or is it supposed to hurt? But the pain is nothing compared to the happiness it fills you with - it makes you realise who you are.
LOVE
Why is it so difficult to say to someone that you love her? Why is love seen as a demand, a chain? Rather it is the only thing that sets you free. Why can't an expression of love be seen as just what it is - a honest expression of your feelings. It is merely letting her know what your feelings for her are. When you say i love you to someone it does not mean that you are asking her to reciprocate and love you back, just a wish that she would. If it is true love you will wait for her to arrive at the place that you are i.e. be in love with you. Why cant it be seen as the promise to be there for her come what may?
WHAT USE IS GOD?
What do we need GOD for....does praying/offering sacrifices/fast do anyone any good....i guess not..even if we consider a hypothetical GOD..has he made all this world to give his vanity a boost.. i don't think so..certainly his only wish would be that people on this earth are good. and if there is no GOD tat shud not stop anyone from being good..
so why do we need a religion to make us good.. people who are not good can never be made any different by religion..can they..?
so y all this debate over a question which doesnt even matter...be good do good of your as well as others and sleep peacefully leave this religious fighting for opportunists n politicians....
join the religion of goodness whose only GOD is your good deeds...
You know the problem is not that there are too many religions ..it's that they are doing the wrong things..manipulating people and all..
life is not a military parade..we dont need to confirm to any particular order..people can choose to follow watevr they feel is good...
so even if we have 6 billion religions of goodness i think its more welcome than one single religion of the kind we have now...
so why do we need a religion to make us good.. people who are not good can never be made any different by religion..can they..?
so y all this debate over a question which doesnt even matter...be good do good of your as well as others and sleep peacefully leave this religious fighting for opportunists n politicians....
join the religion of goodness whose only GOD is your good deeds...
You know the problem is not that there are too many religions ..it's that they are doing the wrong things..manipulating people and all..
life is not a military parade..we dont need to confirm to any particular order..people can choose to follow watevr they feel is good...
so even if we have 6 billion religions of goodness i think its more welcome than one single religion of the kind we have now...
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