Step into the arena

Yet another year comes to an end. This day marks the First year anniversary of Tags. Tags has gone through a long distance now and tags team is very proud and happy. We have successfully got around 30 adoptions so far and we are on the way to create our official website. There has a lot of people who helped us a lot in making all these things possible. I would like to thank them all in making this possible.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!

Whats your status?

It is really a wonderful option of having status messages in messengers but some of them are really funny and I wonder why people use them. Some of the funny status messages I came across are

"I am sleeping. Do not disturb"
Why is he/she online then? Is the messenger capable of auto reply? Lol. He/she could sign out and sleep.

"Snoring!"
Ha ha ha... No comments. Same as the above.

These are just the ones I could remember. There are lot of funny comments I have seen in messengers.

Status messages could also be really useful. One can display the song he/she is listening. A simple wish in the status would suffice.

It is just that people are so crazy about the online world that they would want to stay online even when they are sleeping.

Marudhanayagam : Running in theatres???

I was going through the showtimes of the movies and came across this.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6272/mgngmrr2.jpg

This is one of the funniest online things I ever came across. Click on the link for a larger view.

These guys have stated that Marudhanayagam, actor Kamal Haasan's dream venture, is running in Mayajaal. There can be mistakes while publishing the web page but this seems to be really too much. Kamal would've been dreaming about the film's release but not until he has completed it. Ha ha.

Invasion of Nature

December 25th 2004
It was Christmas day four years back. No matter to which religion you belong to, you can always enjoy the week before Christmas especially the Christmas eve and the Christmas day if you happen to go out. One of such destinations is always Spencer Plaza. That day, my cousins and I decided to visit Spencer Plaza at night. I invited Arun and he joined us. We roamed around the plaza as usual watching the beautiful decorations there. Arun invited me to join him in the bike ride on the way back home. I accepted.

It was around 8.30 pm when we were riding back home. We almost reached home when Arun came up with an idea.

Arun : Shall we go to the beach?
Myself : At this time?
Arun : Ya. Let us go.

Arun took a U-turn and we were two km away from the house when the bike tyres started shaking.

Arun : Do you recognize the problem with the bike?
Myself : Is it a puncture?
Arun : Yes!

He took the bike to the left side of the road and brought it to a halt. There were no mechanic shops nearby neither would they have been open if there had been any. As there was no other choice, we started pushing the bike to Arun's house (Much of it was done by Arun though ;) ) . I took an auto from Arun's house and reached my house.

December 26,2004. 5:45 am IST
My parents woke me up. I didn't bother thinking why they woke me up as the words were sufficient.

Dad : Get up! There has been an earthquake!

I couldn't believe it. I have heard before that one could feel the after-effects of the earthquake such as giddiness even minutes after the earthquake. I didn't know whether I was imagining it but the more I started thinking about it, the more I started getting giddy feeling. We hurried downstairs. As we went for the exit, I had a glimpse of the fish tank. The gold fishes, they say, predict earthquakes. They move awkwardly and rapidly minutes before the earthquake. But this time, they were behaving normally. Probably no more earthquakes.

After standing outside for half an hour, we decided to get back into the house and watch the news clippings. All the news channels were busy with their own versions of the earthquake that happened in the south east part of Asia.

Four hours later:
My mom told me that huge waves had entered into the land.
I recognized what it was. It is a Tsunami! I have read about it when I was a kid. But it happens only in Japan, right? I thought to myself.

Myself : When?
Mom : It happened sometime back.

I thought there wouldn't have been much damage. Only after seeing the news sometime later, I realized that there had been a catastrophe. News clippings told us about the horrible tsunami that had invaded the shores of the south-eastern shore of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Nature comes without a warning but this one did come in the form of earthquake at a magnitude of around 9 few hours back. People should have anticipated it. But the present generation would have never anticipated it as it was never ever expected to occur. The last disastrous tsunami in India was centuries back when it invaded Kolkata and the southern shore of India.

The night before, I had planned to go to beach. If there had been no puncture and had I gone, I can't imagine what trauma I would've faced if I had known that I was at the beach half a day before the disaster occured. The disaster was horrible marking it as the most destructive earthquake ever. Millions of people lost their lives and homes. Days after days, videos of tsunami were showed on TV and I still don't know why the news channels showed a clipping of a four year old girl being gulped by a tsunami. Is it that important when the parents and the relatives of the child would've been in a trauma?

If that is one side of the story, there was also another side. People from around the world started helping the families of the victims of tsunami. Contributions came from all over the world. That was the time when the world united. They looked upon it as a human's problem. Looks like only nature can unite the world? But at the cost of a disaster?

It took a while for everyone to go to the beach normally again. Now it is probably safe with the meteorological department promising that they would send warning of any possible occurence of a tsunami. Let us hope it never occurs again.

Unplugged

In the recent times, my mobile phone gets automatically hung up after I speak for sometime. Till now I don't have any reason as to why it happened. Initially I thought it was because of my mobile which gave problems without any cause. But then it happened even in my mom's mobile. From then, I am clueless as to why it happens. Maybe the service providers doesn't approve of much talking? I don't think so. They would want that to happen.

It has happened three or four times. Fortunately, it didn't happen in the last few days. Also there is no pattern in them. Really clueless!!!

Belated Surprises

It was December 14th, 2008, 1600 IST approx. Arun had come to my house to work on our project. I was downstairs watching the cricket match between India and England. Arun didn't let me watch the match peacefully. He was nudging me to join him upstairs with the project. We started the discussion in front of the computer. Fifteen minutes later, as we were discussing the project, I heard Inchara's voice calling out behind me. "Happy Birthday..." For the next two or three seconds, the following thoughts and inferences came to my mind.

"Isn't it Inchara's voice?"
- "Yes it is"
"Why is he singing birthday wish song?"
- "He must be crazy"
"I can hear other voices too"
-"Its not a joke"
-"Its not my birthday"

I turned back and to my surprise, I found Inchara, Hari, Nithya, Priya and Shiyamili holding a cake. Arun was reacting as if the situation was normal. My sister, who gave the same reaction as that of Arun, was also there. I, shocked, went ahead to see seven faces beaming at me. The candles in the cake were lit. Inchara took out a birthday party hat and came towards me.

"Oh no! Not that!!!"

They made me wear it and some more party accessories. The next moment, they gave me a plastic knife.

"Ya I am supposed to cut the cake"

I immediately started cutting the cake without even blowing the candles. I didn't know thats where the second surprise is. Ha ha.

"No no. Blow off the candles first", my friends gave a gentle order.

I tried to blow it off and it did go off. But within a second, it lit itself again. Everyone laughed.

"Maybe I didn't blow with full strength"

I tried again. It did and it lit up again. Everyone laughed again.

"Something is wrong with the candle"

I tried again and again even though knowing it was a prank. After five minutes, the candle was succesfully blown off. Claps from my friends.

A sample piece was eaten by everyone and then the cake smearing started. Shiyamili was the only one without a cake on her face.

We then went to the terrace. I didn't know why but I got the answer just minutes later. Everyone were having a half-blown balloons. The balloons looked soggy and thats when I realized that it wasn't filled with air but water. Nithya and Priya were the first one to strike. One of them succeeded. I ran away to find Inc throwing one at me. The balloon which Hari threw bounced off me and splashed outside the terrace.

"It must be over"

Then they came up with color powders. It was a mini holi festival in the upstairs. In the end,

Myself : One part of my hair was full of colours that Inc called it Jeff Hardy's hairstyle. ;) he he

Nithya and Priya : Faces were colorful.
Inchara was sporting a cream shirt before the mini holi and a colourful shirt after the mini holi.
Arun was equally colourful.
Hari : had colours around his eyes that made him look like a superhero. Ha ha ha.
Shiyamili : Just normal

After that, gifts were given and we had a long chat before the girls departed. The chat continued for hours until I bid bye to everyone else. Thanks to everyone present that day. I had a really wonderful time.

P.S:
Water balloons : Planned for Inc's birthday. Didn't do it!
Birthday Hat : Planned for Nithya's birthday. We did it!
Colors : Planned for Priya's birthday. Didn't do it!
All the above : Planned for my birthday! And they did it! Lolz. This is what happens there is an aggregation of plans.

Vaaranam Aayiram - A Review

I had a chance to see this movie only last Saturday. Although most of my friends, who had seen the movie, said that the movie is not worth watching, I decided to watch the movie with my friends. A thought crossed my mind that I would like the movie. The movie was nice indeed but not impressive. Experience a novel in the movie.

Plot:
The movie is about the life journey of a guy named Surya, a guy from your friendly neighbourhood. Inspired by his parents' love marriage, he falls for one girl named Meghana, who is going to Berkeley to do her graduation in a short time, in a train heading to their native town. He follows her to US and wins her love but his love, unlike his parents' love, falls in tragedy as Meghana dies in an accident. Unable to digest the incident, Surya cries in despair. Back in hometown, Surya is all set to begin a new life back, with the guidance and care from his father.

Characterization:
Surya, in dual roles as male lead and his father, rocks all the way through the film. Surya's dedication towards acting is to be appreciated as he has donned the roles of all the stages of life of a guy who blooms from his teenage to his youth to a drunkard to an army man to an aged father. The movie is much dominated by the younger Surya and it would've been better if the aged Surya had been shown much character in the movie.

Sameera Reddy adds spice to the movie by her dazzling girl-next-door looks. She is a girl who heads to Berkeley to do her graduate studies. She meets Surya in a train, who had fallen for her at the first sight. She later finds him in Berkeley and also in her heart much later as she too falls for him. Her role is short-lived in the movie as she dies in an accident.
Divya Spandana has done well as a second heroine. She is the friend of the sister of Surya and loves him ever since she studied in school. Divya is seen only in the second half and she doesn't have much role to brag about as the second half is also dominated by Surya. She proposes to Surya and laters marries him.

Simran does justice to her role. Her role as a young college girl in the first half of the movie doesn't seem to suit her even though the style matched the earlier days. She fared well as the wife of Surya and also the mother of younger Surya. The scenes in the second half of the movie, where she takes the role of a caring wife and a responsible mother, proves her acting experience.

Direction:

The movie is directed by Gautham Menon and hats off to him for bringing out a novel kind of a movie rather than action flicks. This movie is about the relationship between a father and a son. The relationship could've been handled better by the director and a bit more emotions could've done it.

Harris Jayaraj, the music director for this movie, has done well yet again. The songs are topping the chartbusters. All the songs are worth listening.

The movie is not received well throughout Tamil Nadu and is getting mixed reviews. For people, who wants to see a pleasant movie, should not miss this one. Do not go with high expectations!

Patented Smiley

When I went throught morning newspaper, I was shocked to find that the smiley (yes! the smiley we use in chats and sms) is going to be patented by a Russian Entrepreneur, which means that no one other than his company can use it. No more colon or semi colon followed by a hyphen and a paranthesis. You maybe sued by the company if you use it. Does it mean the end of expressions in chats and mobiles?

The newspaper had interviewed people and had found that most of them had suggested using emote and winks as a substitute for smileys. But would they be as simple as a smiley?
I would like to quote a funny line said by a girl interviewed by the newspaper, "... it would be awkward if we use 'I am smiling now', 'I am winking now' instead of those smileys".

Lets wait and see what happens!

Heal the World

I dedicate this post to all the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the recent terror attacks in Mumbai and I pray for their families.

Quote of the Month:

Religions are many and diverse, but reason and goodness are one.
- Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915), American writer and Philosopher

Photo of the Month:
Wonderful art that shows there is no border for unity :)

Song of the Month:

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

A beautiful song sung by Michael Jackson that everyone can work together to bring goodness to the society.

Album: Invincible

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]

Somebody shakes when the wind blows

Somebody's missing a friend, hold on

Somebody's lacking a hero

And they have not a clue

When it's all gonna end

[Verse 2]

Stories buried and untold

Someone is hiding the truth, hold on

When will this mystery unfold

And will the sun ever shine

In the blind man's eyes when he cries?

[Chorus:]

You can change the world (I can't do it by myself)

You can touch the sky (Gonna take somebody's help)

You're the chosen one (I'm gonna need some kind of sign)

If we all cry at the same time tonight

[Verse 3]

People laugh when they're feelin sad

Someone is taking a life, hold on

Respect to believe in your dreams

Tell me where were you when your children cried last night?

[Verse 4]

Faces fill with madness

Miracles unheard of, hold on

Faith is found in the winds

All we have to do Is reach for the truth

[Chorus]

And when that flag blows

There'll be no more wars

And when all calls I will answer all your prayers

[Chorus x3]

Change the world

Video Song of the Month:

Another song by Michael Jackson. Every MJ fan would love this song. A really superb song. I wasn't able to embed the video. So here is the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHbJwpCVxaQ

The lyrics for the video

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/healtheworld.html

A smile on that face

In recent times, I have been fascinated by many astronomical happenings. Thanks to Inc and Vivek who keeps me updated on the wonderful happenings.

The meteor showers :

Though I didn't witness it, it was a wonderful experience. It happened on the day before my DSP semester exam. It was November 17, 2008 04:00 IST. I woke up due to a series of messages from my friend Inc asking me to wake up. The previous day, he had sent a message (to all of his friends) to watch the sky from 3 am to 6 am - to watch the meteor shower leonids. I read the messages from Inc that he had spotted two meteors already. Just two meteors? I thought. I looked out of the window and saw just a peaceful sky promising a good night sleep. But as my friend insisted me to go upstairs, I woke up my sister and we both headed to the terrace. We both watched the clouds passing by, lot of planes making its journey and even some stars (I remember seeing Regulus (Thanks to the phone call with Inc, who provided me with all the information)) but never did we witness any meteor showers. Inc, determined to watch a few more, waited for an hour more and witnessed altogether five plus meteors.

Sprinkle of Glitters:

It was November 28, 2008 23:30 IST. There was no power in my house for two days due to the heavy rains that showered its blessings (maybe a bit too much blessing turned out to be a curse). I heard that the rains will finally stop that night. I went to the back door and looked up at the east sky to check whether the sky is clear. Something weird struck my eyes. The sky was indeed clear and the clouds had moved away to reveal the moon and the stars, which seemed to me that I saw them ages ago. What was weird was that the stars were extremely bright! It was as if someone had sprinkled silver glitters all over the sky. Towards the eastern horizon, I saw a bright star that was shining blue. I looked above and saw a series of stars and immediately guessed that I was seeing a constellation. It had three stars in the middle with stars stretching diagonally at its edges. They were all bright. I wished I had taken a photo of that night sky. Two days later, I learnt from Inc that what I saw was the constellation Orion, which was the brightest one, and the three stars in the middle was called as the Orion belt.

A smile on that face:

It was December 1, 2008 19:00 IST. Inc had already told me to watch the sky for a glimpse of Venus and Jupiter very close to each other. That evening, I was online and Vivek reminded me to go and look at the sky in the west. When I asked him what it was, he told that there is a smile. I immediately went up and searched for the crescent moon. I found it in the south-west and just above the crescent moon, there were Venus and Jupiter forming two eyes and the entire thing looked like a face with a smile. The clouds had made the planets look dull but seeing the sky smile at you was an amazing sight. The following pic is taken from Vivek's blog.
UFO sighted!!!

Yes, Unidentified Flying Object!!! I couldn't believe I saw one. It was December 5,2008. I went and opened the back door of my house and looked at the sky. To my shock, I saw a round shaped white object moving slowly and steadily. It was like a space shuttle and had a typical shape of a UFO. I immediately took my mobile and recorded the movements of the UFO as it went past my house. The lights below the UFO was clearly visible. Did I forget to tell you at what time I saw it? I was some time between 02:00 to 04:00. Ofcourse in my dreams! ;)