People

Rain has set in and for quite some days it has been raining, but it’s a different story that the met dept. is saying. As per them monsoon is yet to hit Bangalore. Anyway one day we (my colleagues and me) were taking a break. Enjoying the rain, hot cup of tea (which by the way was not hot or good, but the environment made it nice). As usual the topic was IPL. That’s when my friend AK piped up. “Where is LA(name changed on request) now days? Any idea?”

Me: Why what happened?

AK: Well nothing much it’s just that I don’t know why but the guy was so irritating.

Me: So now you want to remember some irritating guy when we are talking of IPL and good times. (And missing beer)

AK: No not that ways. It’s like this he is that kind of a guy who is irritating when you are talking to him, but as soon as he is out of site you can have a hearty laugh.

Well that’s true I guess. I will give you an example and then tell you.

It was 4 or 5 years ago. I had met LA in collage. Nice chap stays quite. That’s it. Then one fine day I had to take a lift to my Aunts home. As luck had conspired he gave me a lift. Soon we had good talking terms. And yeah he was a bit irritating. One day he came to college by bus. So like an absolute showoff, fake, and no good concern I asked him what happened. Soon I realized what grave mistake that was.

Me: (with false concern) What happened to your bike dude? (You can imagine the flowers that many times the cartoonist draws in the dialog bubble to show sweet talk)

LA: Leave that dude. (A very serious tone and heavy voice)

LA: I didn’t understand what happened. You listen to me and then try to understand and then explain it to me. Yesterday I was going to my Aunts home 69Km from here and I had very little fuel in my bike. I was happily cursing when suddenly the bike just stopped. Now can you tell me what the reason can be?

Me: well did you get refueled before that?

LA: No

Me: Hmmm, (I was trying to sound serious) well then that means you used up all your bike's fuel and the bike stopped.

At this point I was more behaving like Sherlock Homes. And wanted to say “Elementary my dear LA elementary. “

LA: (he had this point of time a look that told me that I am the biggest jack ass) Dude you are not listening (As if he is trying hard to keep patient) SEE! I was going to my Aunts home … 69Km from here … and I had very little fuel… in my bike. I was happily cursing… when suddenly the bike came to a grinding halt. Now can you tell me what the reason can be?

I was at this point a bit flabbergasted. I wasn’t sure if he listened to me the 1^st time. I had no choice but this time though without any Sherlock Homes stuff.

Me: you ran out of fuel dude.

LA: (He was pretty pissed himself) OK DUDE! (I still don’t know why he was shouting) BOSS I WAS GOING TO AUNTS PLACE IN MY BIKE. I HAD LITTLE FUEL. SUDDENLY THE BIKE CAME TO A HALT CAN YOU TELL ME A REASON WHY SO HAPPENED?

Me: (why the hell is he shouting but by that time I had given up) this is weird. This shouldn’t have happened. Some black magic…… what do you say?

LA: (now lot more relaxed) I don’t know but I have the same terrible feeling….

Soon afterwards I thought of some excuse and left.

I still have fun telling this story over the coffee. So I thought to share it with you all. Today LA is in a good company at a good place but still that irritating. I have sympathy for the people with him. :)

Reverse Engineering

“Apart from the homework that I have given you for the summer vacation you will also have to make a working prototype of a solar cookers and a windmill. Since most of your parents are Engineers they will help you in this project. Final grade will have 20 marks assigned to these projects.” This was told to us with a sinister smile on our physics teachers face just like the one on Prof Snape face from Harry Potter series. The bell rang and we shot out of the room with full zeal and enthusiasm for the summer vacations that started along with the bell of the last period. The summer vacation was fun. Collecting leaves for the Herbarium file, making models of windmill and solar cooker, learning new things in the summer vacation camp, meeting grand parents, cartoons, no getting up early and so on so forth. Irritatingly though the summer vacations came to a grinding halt as soon as it started. With so much fun nobody of us saw the days flying by and only realized it once they flew by.

School began and so did the lame excuses of not doing any of the homework. Many of us were seen standing outside the class, punished for not completing the homework. In this whole commotion of lame excuse and teacher scolding one thing was amazing. Everyone had brought the solar cooker they were supposed to make. Big boxes with glass mirror on the lid and couple of utensils inside. Some of the utensils had name on it. Maybe those kids mom were sure that they will lose the utensils. Most of us got graded average as it had very little option of improvement. (at least, as per us.) Still there were few who had shown there creativity streak. One of the girls had painted the box Pink from inside out (which by the way is generally black to absorb heat) that was not it. It also sported Barbie with lots of attires and poses. But mostly they were same. One box, glass, mirror and utensils with names on it. That was day one. Next day it was windmills turn.

Engineering [en-juh-neer-ing] (Online Dictionary)

Noun:

1. The art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships, and chemical plants.

This word came into play when we got the windmills to school. Almost all were different. As if each and everyone of us had a go at the windmill with our parents helping us. Some were quite elaborate. With windmill, field, houses, transmission lines etc. but the windmill was a cardboard cut out. So didn’t count. We were asked to make a working model!!!! Our Barbie loving girl had done it again. She had a windmill with a well and Barbie posing beside the well. One of the windmills had made in India tag. There were many more engineering examples.

AJ also did a similar thing like mine. He had the windmill shaft connected to a big wheel (some house hold containers cap). This cap was connected to a small DC motor with rubber-band. One end of the motor was then connected to a bulb and the other end of both motor and bulb was open. The description he gave was the windmill will turn the big wheel, which in turn will turn the motor. This will generate electricity for the bulb and a battery to be connected to the open ends so that it gets charged. In short our teacher was quite impressed. So she asked him to demonstrate it as he claimed it to be a working model.

Reverse Engineering (Online Dictionary)

Verb :

(Used with object) to study or analyze (a device, as a microchip for computers) in order to learn details of design, construction, and operation, perhaps to produce a copy or an improved version.

He smartly took out a battery from his pocket, then simultaneously connected the battery with the open ends of the wire and blew air to the wind mill. And as he had described the windmill turned, turning the wheel then the motor and surely the bulb lit up. With loud clapping our teacher stood up. Chap got an alpha++ grade. Highest grade ever!

What happened that day was a good example of reverse engineering in a crooked way. Well because what actually happened was just the opposite of what our teacher perceived. The battery when linked with the open ends completed the circuit lighting up the bulb and turning the motor. This turned the big wheel and then the windmill. Reverse of what should have happened and so reverse engineering. We all had a good laugh after the class and for quite some time we had this definition of the word and not the actual one described about in the post. 

Alien

Its been almost one year that I have posted anything on this site. Well I would like to put the blame to global warming, increasing traffic, recessions, a complete change of my life style, the roadies…. well I would blame all but me and my lazy bum.

Well let’s come to the main topic. Few days back I watched one of my favorite serial; “The X Files” then I saw the movie “Independence Day”. This got me thinking. (Well yeah I know it’s very rare but I also do think) I was thinking of all the movies that I have seen on aliens, are mostly Hollywood flicks. ID4, AVP, Alien, Species, Predator, ET, Cocoon… etc. Here is a list of Hollywood movies with aliens.

On the other hand Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish are the only Bollywood movies. (well those are the only ones I can think of. I you know any more Bollywood movie with alien do let me know in the comments).

This small fact has raised a question in my mind. Why do aliens come to America only? This question I once asked my mom when I was a kid. We used to see that serial X Files. Here are some of the points that came out of the discussions. (Cutting the long story short.)

1) They (read aliens) will not be given due importance in India.

2) They may feel that we already are bogged down by Ghost, Superstition, black magic… and so many such things, and then decide to attack America.

3) They also have dollar dreams

4) They know there will be more excitement (read babes in bikini) in America and more Cows and Stray dogs in India

5) They are scared that some one may spit pan on there space ship or some dog may pee on it

Well these are few of the points I have got. If you think you have a better on then please let me know.

One of the major reasons I think for Bollywood to make less of alien movies is that we have enough material for Ghost movie, enough masala in epic movies, Love triangle moves and so on so forth. The best point is these movies make money and so the producers keep making them one after another or sequels. So why worry the Aliens!