End of Long Biking Days

Today was last day for me on bike to office as a routine, at least for sometime from now. For last four years, ever since I started my career, bike has been an integral part of my journey to office. Except for very rare occasions like tire puncture, it has always kept up with me.

I bought this bike on October 2006. In last four years, it has covered around 42000 Km. Out of this, a major share is my daily cruise of 46 km to office. In the third month of its life, it gave me the first and worst accident that ever happened to me yet. I lost skin on both hands and leg knees. I was bed ridden for almost 2 weeks and took another 1 more week for me to walk like a gentleman. But I wont blame the poor chap for lose of concentration of mine. Though I recovered and bruises and scares said good bye to me on the time that past, he stood with me with all those un erasable tints and scratches, reminding me to be careful, each time I get on him. Other than this, I had few slips on sand and lose of balances, nothing causing any damage. Still, I would say, Its one of the proudest Jewel in my possession as it is this bike that I bought with my initial salary.

From tomorrow, I will be using the company transport to commute to office. A new change, that I look forward to bring a bit more time and comfort to my life. The extra hours in bus for reading, music and sleep. oops, just by muttering ‘sleep’, my eyes are shuttering down. I wish to write more, but tomorrow. there are many changes in my daily routine. So, I require a good night’s sleep.

Good night all.

Three Way Rivaltries

The premise is simple: to count down ten great rivalries that include not just two, but exactly three diametrically opposed sides from categories ranging from history and sports to beauty and business. So with that, we might as well say it right now: Let’s get our three-way on.

Missed a day

Yesterday was a day where I missed everything I touched and it recorded as the first not so good day in 2011. Let this post be a reminder of the day.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions – Solar Storms

In August, 2010, NASA reported that there would be a solar storm sometime in 2012. Every 11 years or so, changes in our star’s magnetic field bring on an increase in sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The result is a barrage of charged particles hurling toward Earth. A solar storm is a sudden burst of very fast, charged particles from the Sun. It could be the result of a solar flare or a coronal mass ejection (CME) or both. A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a massive burst of solar wind (stream of charged particles ejected from the sun). A solar flare is a sudden eruption of magnetic energy released on the surface of the sun, usually accompanied by bursts of electromagnetic radiation. Ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from solar flares often induce electromagnetic disturbances in the earth’s atmosphere.

Solar storms would affect power grids, thus losing electricity. The Solar Storm itself would not cause an apocalypse, but it would bring about a sort of domino effect. People would then lose access to their heat/air conditioning, refrigeration, phone service and GPS. Also, drinking water distribution systems could break down in a couple of hours. Normally, a “Faraday Cage” protects the satellite’s internal equipment from external electrical charges, but constant bombardment of charges would cause satellites to break down. There are over 936 operating satellites in space, worth an estimated $200 billion to replace. Magnetic storm currents acting on gas pipelines are known to enhance the rate of corrosion over time, with potentially catastrophic cumulative effects.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions - Super Volcano

There are about 500 active volcanoes in the world. There are three known supervolcanoes in the US, (including Yellowstone), Lake Toba in Indonesia, Taupo in New Zealand and Aira Caldera in Japan. A supervolcano is a volcano capable of producing a volcanic eruption with an eruption radius greater than 240 cubic miles (1,000 cubic kilometers). Supervolcanoes are the most dangerous, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 8. This is thousands of times larger than most historic volcanic eruptions. Geologists believe that Yellowstone is the most likely supervolcano to erupt next, as it has been exhibiting signs of unrest, with earthquake swarms, ground deformation and considerable heat and gas emissions.

Earthquakes are the primary indicator that a volcano is about to erupt. The Yellowstone caldera experiences about 1500 measurable earthquakes a year. The last eruption of Yellowstone was 640,000 years ago. If it did erupt, expect half of the USA to be wiped out, and major variations in global climate for many years. Residual volcanic ash in the atmosphere would result in the devastation of world agriculture, severe disruption of food supplies and mass starvation. Yellowstone could emit 2,000 millions of tons of sulphuric acid, and could produce the equivalent of a “nuclear winter”, when the dust and debris from the fallout of a nuclear war block out sunlight for several years, causing worldwide famines.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions - Pandemic

An epidemic is when a disease outbreak strikes a large number of people, in a given area, at the same time. The epidemic becomes a pandemic when it spreads over a wide geographical area, or throughout many countries. Although most epidemics are caused by infectious organisms, the term can be applied to an outbreak of any chronic disease, such as cancer or heart disease.

Bubonic plague (1300-1400), typhus (1501- 1587), SARS (2002), recurring epidemics of scarlet fever, typhoid and yellow fever (1865-1873), and HIV (1980-present) are some infectious diseases that have resulted in epidemic or pandemic outbreaks. It might not be swine or avian flu, but flu researchers say a deadly pandemic is not a case of if, but when.

The ancients couldn’t predict when this would happen, but with recent outbreaks of swine and avian flu, it seems likely that another flu like this is on the horizon. The last great plague (Spanish flu) hit 1918-1920. Researchers estimate that between 20 million to 100 million were killed. The call for sanitary reform and the development of new vaccines at the end of the nineteenth century ended the rapidly spreading plague. However, since then the incidence of infectious diseases has steadily risen in the past 100 years. Infection spreads more easily now due to people traveling more often. The outbreak of anthrax in 2001, and the threat of biological warfare suggest that the US is neither equipped to handle a mass outbreak, nor the panic resulting from such outbreak.

Messy Post

Change of work place is always welcoming. Whether it’s a new job or new office place, it’s gives new colors or more precisely a change. And I being allocated to new project had the opportunity to move to a new office location itself. So, a new work place and desk automatically follows.

With these additions I lost some of the privileges too. Most valuable is the nearness to my home. My old office location was 11 km from home. The new one is 23km. So, it’s almost double. So, I have decided to use the company transportation from next month. I am not so comfortable to ride 46 km again in Chennai. I have been cruising the distance for over 4 years in my career. So, I think its time to give break to such long routine bike rides.

Company transportation has its own good sides and also lousy side. Good thing is I can enjoy the travel comfortably with my IPod or going through my reading list. Also, travelling time will be as relaxing as sitting at home. The lousy side is I have to stick to the schedule of the bus. It won’t wait for me. So, I have to stick close manage time in my morning routines.

The project changes and unknown reasons had me on bed in early mornings for last couple of weeks. So, I think its time to jump back to some physical activity in the morning. Else, I would be in a pathetic situation later with my belly. To maintain a good figure and posterior do demands sweating out regularly. And I have decided to restart it from tomorrow.

Another good thing about this new building is there is a lot of cafeterias hosted by different Cook houses ranging from Sodexho, café coffee day to other local vendors, News is that KFC is opening shortly within the block. So, there is a variety to chew but the problem it really takes a bit from the wallet too. Mostly, in 2-3 days, I will return to my old habit of bringing lunch from home.

Looking forward tomorrow is a National Holiday in India. 26th of January is the day when we became a Republic year ago. So, the ‘Republic Day’ accounts me a mid week break. As you all will agree, a mid week holiday is one of the most refreshing day off for me. If it was just another mid week holiday, I would have just snoozed off at home, But since during the last weekend, I was doing the same thing, I might be planning for some outing with my wife. Mostly to some places that is still unvisited in Chennai.

Anyone who has read this blog post and successfully reached this line would be wondering about the messed up nature of this post. It doesn’t have any particular topic and I am just blabbering about each of the things that come into my mind on and on. Well, let me reveal a small experiment of mine, which I had in mind when I started typing out this post.

I was wondering to know what it takes to type out content that fills a whole page. I never has written anything so long or had enough words anyone topic to fill up one single page. So, I decided on a list of topics rather than one for this first try out. And I tell my experience. Writing a long page is not a simple thing. My fingers are already aching. Then, it’s very difficult to continue the flow of words. But I believe it’s the practice that makes things better. And posts like this without readers (except my friend, Walters, who checks out my blog, for whatever rubbish I conjure up, thanks mate), I can really work on horning my writing skills. Who could compete deny a best seller out of me at long years ahead?

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions - Geomagnetic Reversal

Geologist Gregg Braden has made the claim that the Earth’s magnetic field has dropped 38% (measured in magnetometers) in the past two thousand years (about 1.9% per century), and the rate of decline has risen to 6% in the past century. Basically, the global magnetic field is dropping at an accelerating rate toward zero point, at which time the polarity of earth will reverse. It is unknown whether the decline of the magnetic field will continue to increase. The magnetic field last flipped 780,000 years ago, but the time between reversals has varied from a few thousand years to 35 million years. During this time additional magnetic poles could appear in the weakening field. A compass then would point in different directions depending on the location. Then the magnetic field would almost completely disappear for several thousand years before re-emerging in the opposite direction.

The effects of this reversal are hard to predict. Some theorists claim that it will not have any effect on humans. With the modern reliance on electricity and electromagnetic effects (radio, satellite communications, GPS), the world will have technological disruptions in the event of a full field reversal. One effect that may occur during a magnetic reversal is that the Earth may not be protected from charged particles streaming from the sun. These particles are called the solar wind, and could be dangerous to life if they reached the Earth’s surface. The amount of radiation reaching the surface of the Earth would definitely increase, but not by much. More people would suffer skin cancer, but we would not all die horribly from radiation poisoning.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions - WWIII

A World War is a war involving more than 2 continents, in which at least 20 major countries participate in an attack against a common enemy, and which has the attention of the average civilian, due to the significant loss of life. A lot of theorists claim that the terrorist attack on the World Trade centers and subsequent war with Iraq is the beginning of WWIII. Initially 40+ countries were a part of the coalition that invaded Iraq. As of August 2010, 4,733 Coalition (including US) soldiers had been killed in Iraq. The US deaths made up 4,415 of those deaths. Since the beginning of the U.S. reconstruction effort, 224 U.S. civilians have died in Iraq (2007 report.)

The Cuban Missile Crisis (in 1962) is generally thought to be the point at which the risk of World War III was closest. With the globalization of the marketplace and trade and the spread of nukes, it has become increasingly costly and suicidal to start WW3. So in theory, nations are, more than ever, unlikely to start wars, yet here we are on the brink of another war with Iran. Ever increasing oil prices, economic depression, North American union and the declaration of martial law within the US are all, supposedly, factors that will contribute to the next world war.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions – Timewave Zero

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, consists of an arrangement of sixty-four hexagrams (six-line figures) consisting of two types of lines, yin and yang, and has been used as an oracle. Coins or sticks are thrown, the combination of which signifies one or two hexagrams, and the second hexagram represents the predicted change from the first hexagram. Terrence and Dennis McKenna make a case that the I Ching was originally used as a lunar calendar in which the sixty-four six-line hexagrams (384 lines total) represented the 384 days in a thirteen-month lunar year. The earliest arrangement of the hexagrams of the I Ching is the King Wen Sequence. The theory that emerged from the I Ching study is known as Novelty theory.

If the wave model is a valid theory of time, it should be possible to pinpoint on the wave that corresponds to the date that something important happened in history. To carry out this operation, Peter Meyer developed the Timewave Zero software. To see how the Timewave Zero software works click here. McKenna believes that during this time there will be a surge in information and evolutionary breakthroughs will start coming in nanoseconds. The theory is not deterministic; it does not say what will happen in the future, only the levels of novelty that whatever happens will have to fulfill.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions – Kali Yuga

The Hindu system of cycles, inherited from the Vedic civilization, is broken down into 4 time cycles. Krita/Satya Yuga (Golden Age), Treta Yaga (Silver Age), Dvapara Yuga (Copper/Bronze Age), and the Kali Yuga (Iron Age). In one of the oldest Vedic writings, attributed to the god-man Manu, the four yugas are said to add up to 24,000 years, but when they are enumerated they only come to 12,000 years. The Krita/Satya Yuga lasts 4,800 years; the Treta Yuga lasts 3,600; the Dvapara lasts 2,400 years and the Kali Yuga lasts 1,200 years. The “descent into darkness”- Kali Yuga – started when the summer solstice (June) Sun was aligned with the apparent Galactic Center, around 10,800 BC. The “Ascent back into light” takes place now, when the winter solstice (December) Sun aligns with the apparent Galactic Center around 2002-2012.

Kali yuga is known as the age of the male demon, Kali. The scriptures, like Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.2, teach that during the 432,000 year age of Kali humanity deteriorates and falls into barbarism. “Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, physical strength and memory diminish with each passing day.” Severe droughts and plagues are everywhere. Slovenliness, illness, hunger and fear spread. Nations are continually at war with one another. People in this age will be lazy, greedy and deceitful. The end of Kali Yuga is marked by the return of the Kalki, the last reincarnation of Vishnu, who will battle the demon Kali.

Unforgettable Train Journey

Travelling in train now is as common as riding a bicycle., specially in India where train is the most convenient mode of transport offering comfortable and cheap Journey. Matter of fact: India has the fourth largest railway network in the world

I would say that the train journey in India  is part of the culture as well. Right from the bye byes and tears, with the farewell said to the friends and families to the ‘Samosa’ vendors strolling through the Train. How can an Indian train journey could be complete without hearing the ‘Chai,Chai’ humming at least once?

As a kid, I was also very much fascinated by these massive big machines that run on rails. While waiting at level cross for train to pass, I wondered about the time, when I will be travelling in this gigantic vehicle. And when I was 10 years old, I had the first taste what it feels like travelling in train. I still can remember the shine in my eyes and the fascination with which I glared at the platform, when the train started moving slowly.

I was travelling with my Father and Mother, and my little brother who was then 4 year old. We were in first class compartment, which was indeed a luxury for us in those times, but attainable because of the fact that my father was a army man then. It was a locked room compartment us, just for us. We enjoyed the little family privacy for the 3 days and 2 nights of journey.

But the real dream got fulfilled even after one year. The time when my father’s regiment moved to another state. The entire unit was packed into a single private train was we moved out as a chartered train. It was a fun filled journey lasted for 7 days. Since it was a kind of chartered train, the other trains had the priority and we moved on when the track was free. Though the actual distance was just for a 3 days journey, I would never complain those days spend in the train. I still could remember the early morning when the slowly crossed the bridge over the Krishna river and entered the 'Vijayawada station. The station is situated between 3 mountains and the river flows through the mountains. The misty morning in that station is an unforgettable experience ever in my life.

Still I didn’t mention about the dream that got fulfilled in this long journey. During this epic train travel in my life, I got to be in engines of both electric and diesel trains. It was a rare opportunity to have while the train is running. May be a once in a life time opportunity that just got consumed in that early age of mine. But the memories as I always cherish stay on and on with me.

Coming to present, I don’t have the same excitement to travel in train as I used to have in that age. Now, I travel in train occasionally to travel to my home town and back. If the budget allows me, I would prefer to travel in bus than train as I feel a night bus to my home city is less time consuming and comfortable than those extra hours in the train.

Still memories linger around me with each train journey reminding me of those days when I watched the train with excitement and then screaming out loud when I was speeding away in that engine compartment. Quite a memorable memory.

Painful Journey

From this week, I shifted to new project and to new office premises. This in turn has increased the distance from home to office by an additional 13 km. The overall 23 km would have been manageable if the road condition was good.

But the 11 km of broken roads, with surprise pot holes had its effect on me from the first day itself. On reaching home, I was having back pain with a much higher severity than the normal ones.

So, I opted for the company bus service from next month. I haven't used the bus service for office travel in my entire career. So, this is going to be fun. I have already started plans for spending the travel time in a best enjoyable way. The best plan should be to revive my long lost hobby of mine permanently – Reading.

I don't know how things will work out. But lets wait and see.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions - Book of Apocalypse

 

The Book of Apocalypse from the Bible (also known as the book of Revelation) is probably the most well known end of the world prophecy (at least in Western Culture). There has been endless debate on what parts of the Bible are meant literally, and what parts are meant symbolically, and this is doubly true for this specific book. With vivid imagery and strange statements that leave room for interpretation, people all around the world have spent their lifetimes trying to decode the Book of Apocalypse. Despite these debates, there are some parts that interpreters agree on. The major one is that during the end times there will be a false prophet masquerading as a messiah, as well as the presence of the antichrist.

The earth will face destruction in many forms. People will have to suffer from earthquakes, fire, plague, hailstorms, famine and many other calamities, in all shapes and forms. After these cataclysmic events, the Antichrist will gain domination over the world. They will rule the world for a certain unknown amount of time, which will then be followed by Armageddon. During Armageddon, a colossal battle will occur between the forces of evil (the Antichrist) and the forces of good (Jesus Christ), in which Jesus prevails. The Bible itself never gives specific dates, of course; instead all of its prophecies are based on a timeline of milestones and events.

Wild Amazon : A Barbeque Fiesta in Chennai

My habit of not taking surprises when it comes to food is a very old one. Especially, when I am taking my friends or family to dinner. My experiments about a new joint is usually alone. I take chances and then review it. If it touches my heart, then I take the privilege to take my family and friends over there. Else, I wont recommend the same place to them.

But yesterday was different. The decision was quick. My wife and myself decided to have the dinner outdoors. I decided to go to the tried and tested Barbeque Nation in T Nagar. But to my bad luck(I don’t think so now), they had all their tables booked for the evening.

So, as an adhoc option, I booked a table at Al-Arab restaurant(Barbeque division of Wild Amazon), who specializes in barbeque buffet. The table was booked for 7:30 Pm and I reached there by 7:25 Pm.



The reception has good. My name was already there in the guest list. So, I straight away moved to the third floor. A quick left from the life corridor, and man, I was impressed. Beautifully lit table spaces and, spaciously arranged tables and waiters in traditional Arab wardrobes. ‘Al-Arab’, now I realized that it isn't just a name. They mean it in all sense.



First, lassie(sugared butter milk) was served. I am not much of a fan of it. So, no comments. Next was a quarter of shawarma, slice of grilled chicken and a single piece of date filled with bits of cashew and resin. Each of the dish above as equally commendable. Special applause to that single piece of dates. I has never ever in my life tasted dates so fresh and sweet. For a moment, I was in a lushly green oasis, tasting dates right away.

Then a tray of blistering coal was placed in the space in the middle of table and grills of prawn, sear fish, chicken, vegetable delights including potato, mushroom, Paneer and mixed fruits were placed one after another. The recipes were authentic middle east delicacies and blended smoothly over my taste buds.

After I had enough of these grilled starters, I did not have much space to spread evenly on the main courses of the buffet. But I tasted all of the dishes on the menu and relished it very much. The idea of rotating few Indian cuisines every week added from spice to the Arabian serves.

Empty Cup

Sometimes I feel so irritated. In my mind, I wish to write on and on, but here I stand with an empty cup – that needs to be filled with an Idea.

I feel to write about a lot of things, my day yesterday, the dream I saw past night, the wonderful dinner I had yesterday evening at a barbeque restaurant.

But, the matter of fact is each of this events is so devoid of colors that is not enough to make a painting. But still these words hang around me to be played with.

Why did I start Blogging?

A question, I never asked myself. Maybe the answer to this question lies in a very old memory, hidden deep in my mind. Something, that has to be searched for, something not easily catchable. Something important.

My rendezvous with words began with my love with books. I loved reading. Those imaginations bind in words, unleashed with each words, those sentences that took me to far away lands, into the lives of many great men and women. I saw their lives from very near in my imagination. I liked the very perspective of journeying through the imagination and living with many lives of character that took birth in author’s mind and continue to live in every readers heart. This love, that bind me to the words made me a writer. As with any passion, first you notice it, then starts to enjoy it, then love it and then you wish to create it. The ultimate of every passion is the wish to create it. And I began my humble journey with the magic of words.

Writing is not an easier task. At least to me. I often wonder how those great writers played with the words. How it was possible to bind each and every minute details of their imagination to words and then imprint it  on to the pages that unleash to the readers imagination, once those words pass through their mind. A truly, genuine work of God’s unmatched gift.

I do have a imagination. I must say dreams. A vivid character filled dreams. Each dream taking me to different scenes of life, where I am a part. With each dream, a story unreels in my mind. And I am desperate to put them into words. And I do understand that it is not an easy task. The connection of words with the dreams or imagination should be authentic and genuine enough to be recreated by the reader. May be some day, I will be able to create such a bond. After it is The God who writes the script. I am just a character in his Stage.

My Childhood Home

The best thing about me are my memories. I have many times expressed through my web logs that I have a very good memory of my life. And it is most likely that my life will uncover one day through a series of blog posts , unraveling an auto biography. I remember everything, I must be specific, almost every important and unimportant events that happened ever since I can recognize what is a memory.

Sometimes, memory gets interlinked with imagination. When my grandpa says, I used to run ahead of him, when he walked me back from pre school. I see that in my eyes, but I cant be sure whether its a memory from the 3 year old boy, an age where I can rarely use much of brain to keep events in memory. My brain was so occupied those times, learning the new things, I always loved.

At this point, I am unsure whether I loved being a child or not. There were many good things that happened to me, also the bad things. One thing that I am pretty sure is that I was very happy even then to be let alone. I liked my privacy. I liked reading, playing, and experimenting alone. It included making roads in the sand dump in front of my house or driving the broken suitcase wheel(It was my super bike then), over the line of ants killing them. Though I regret that very much now, I do swear that I didn't know the meaning of life and death then. Once I understood those meanings and the pain it takes, I never harmed a living creature to death knowingly.

I stayed in my childhood home for almost first 6 years of my life. It was my mother's home. It was old and leaky. Once my room had the concrete roof and I was very proud of that. That room of mine was my world. Unless for cleaning, I never let anyone in my room willingly. I was so proud of my room.

A Dive Into Memories

I have often wondered why the time always moves on. Time is one of the anomaly that science cannot define with specificity. For me, Time is defined as something that cannot be reverse and stopped. A change that continues in a steady rate applicable to all the matter in the universe. But humans, with that unique brain of him, has the ability to defy time in one manner or other – The Memories.

Memories and thought process allow man to live in all the three states of time – past, present and the future. Learn from the past, live in the present and wait for the future. Amazing. isn't?

Five Golden Rules to Overcome Interview Fears

Sweaty palms, dry and raspy throat and butterflies in the stomach.

If that's how you usually feel before an interview, take heart in the fact that you're not alone. Although there are no statistics, HR professionals estimate that almost six out of 10 candidates, who appear for a job interview, are nervous and tense. But here's a little secret - a candidate, who appears nervous, dramatically reduces his or her chances to make it to the final list. So take a deep breath, pull yourself together and know the golden rules to overcome interview fears and bag your dream job.

Do your homework
Do ample research on your role, the company and the industry. HR heads say an unprepared candidate starts to fumble and stutter, and appears anxious when asked questions about the industry and how the company is performing. You can get the latest news from the company's annual report, its website, press releases, and of course the internet.

Rehearse your answers
Rehearse answers to the possible questions you may be asked. There are always some stock questions applicants face during interviews - Tell us something about yourself; Why do you want to change your job; how do you see yourself growing in this organization; what are your strengths and weaknesses and such. It pays to rehearse the answers either in front of the mirror, or with someone else.

The first 5-7 minutes are crucial
First impressions matter. Be extremely careful, in the first five to seven minutes of the interview, about what you say, how you conduct yourself and what impression you allow the interviewer to form of yourself. A candidate should be careful about his way of speaking, posture, attitude and the way he carries himself.

Don't appear desperate
When you want something too much, you get more nervous. HR heads say interviews should be seen as an opportunity to meet and interact with new people, and not as a do-or-die situation. This will dramatically reduce stress. Asking a question or two in return at the end of an interview, also gives the impression that s/he is not scared or desperate for the job.

Follow interview hygiene
Follow some basic interview hygiene rules. Dress neatly and don't look tired and sweaty. This will boost your confidence. Never look sleepy or stare at the interviewer.

Article Courtesy – Economic Times

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions : Web Bot

A web bot is a tool used to speed-read the internet in order to find patterns or waves of behavior. It was created in 1997, originally to predict stock market trends. The Web Bot conceptualizes a future pattern of behavior, based on the new and recent psychological queries of the masses. Web Bot works by using a form of the “Wisdom of the Crowd” (the process of taking into account the collective opinion of a group of individuals rather than a single expert), with web crawlers that search the internet for about 300,000 keywords with emotional context. Web Bot acted much like an Internet prophet, creating prophecies of things to come based on the chatter of the entire world.

There have been six Web Bot reports in all. The first one was released in 1997, and the final report was released March 12, 2010. Web Bot claims to have predicted the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the 2001 anthrax scare and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. The Web Bot has predicted that a cataclysm will devastate the planet in the year 2012, possibly a reversing of Earth’s magnetic poles or a small series of nuclear attacks leading up to a major attack during the year. The Web Bot predictions for 2012 are as follows: Sustainable living practices becoming the only option for living and Magnetosphere problems causing the burning of crops.

Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions : Galactic Alignment

On December 21, 2012, the solstice sun will align with the dark rift in the Milky Way. The dark rift (Great Rift) is the widest part of the Milky Way and corresponds to the direction of the center of the galaxy. As the alignment occurs, the solstice meridian will align with the crossing point of the ecliptic (the path of the Sun, moon and planets) and the plane of the galaxy, which is called the galactic equator, and pass on the other side. Alignments occur every 36 years, but this alignment is unique. At this time the sun appears to just touch one part of the dark rift that snakes its way along the Galactic Equator.

This is an area of the night sky considered important to Maya cosmology with respect to spiritual rebirth mythology. In some versions, the combined gravity of the galactic black hole and the sun will cause earthquakes, tsunamis, floods or severe weather. In other versions the alignment will cause more esoteric issues, such as a blockage of an undefined type of energy emanating from the black hole, or from the galactic core, or both. Aligning with the rift could cause major disturbances in the orbits of inner planets. Some people believe that this event could place the Earth in danger of being sucked into a black hole at the center of the dark rift in the Milky Way.

ListMania : Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions

Plenty of people have speculated when the world was going to end. The following list explores possible means of the destruction of the Earth’s and/or the human race. This list contains far out 2012 prophecies, probable disasters and just interesting rumors. I have intentionally left out Nostradamus since most of his “prophecies” have been debunked. To read more on this subject please see Top Ten Failed Apocalyptic Predictions unreeled in upcoming posts.

Begining of Media Globalization

Many see this photo from 1985 as the beginning of what we nowadays call "media globalization", because Omayra Sanchez's agony was followed by television cameras from all over the world. Despite all the footage that was recorded by those tv cameras, it was this photograph, of a shocking reality and humanity, that went down in history as the first broadcast of the pain and death of a human being

Omayra Sanchez, 13 years old, was the victim of volcano Nevado del Ruiz's eruption in 1985, that devasted the Armero village, in Colombia. Omayra was trapped for three days under the mud, clay and water that was left from her own house. When the paramedics, with scarce resources, tried to help her, they sadly realized there was nothing they could do, since to remove her from the deadly trap they would have to amputate her legs and the lack of a specialist on the scene would result in her death.
According to the paramedics and the journalists that surrounded her, Omayra was strong until the last minute of her life. For the three days her agony lasted she thought only about going back to school, her studies and her friends. Photographer Frank Fournier took this photo of Omayra that travelled the world and generated a worldwide controversy about the indifference of the Colombian government before the victims of natural disasters such as this.
The photograph was published months after the girl's death and Frank Fournier was awarded the 1986 World Press Photo Premier Award for this picture.

Road Safety Week

The number of people using roads has increased manifold times and riding through clogged traffic has become an everyday routine for all. It is of utmost importance to follow the safety measures while you are on the move. Be aware of the safe driving tips and be safe on roads, because Your Family Awaits You

My Childhood Home

The best thing about me are my memories. I have many times expressed through my web logs that I have a very good memory of my life. And it is most likely that my life will uncover one day through a series of bog posts , unraveling an auto biography. I remember everything, I must be specific, almost every important and unimportant events that happened ever since I can recognize what is a memory.

Sometimes, memory gets interlinked with imagination. When my grandpa says, I used to run ahead of him, when he walked me back from pre school. I see that in my eyes, but I cant be sure whether its a memory from the 3 year old boy, an age where I can rarely use much of brain to keep events in memory. My brain was so occupied those times, learning the new things, I always loved.

At this point, I am unsure whether I loved being a child or not. There were many good things that happened to me, and also bad things. One thing that I am pretty sure is that I was very happy even then to be let alone. I liked my privacy. I liked reading, playing, and experimenting alone. It included making roads in the sand dump in front of my house or driving the broken suitcase wheel(It was my super bike then), over the line of ants killing them. Though I regret that very much now, I do swear that I didn't know the meaning of life and death then. Once I understood those meanings and the pain it takes, I never harmed a living creature to death knowingly, except some cockroaches.

I stayed in my childhood home for almost first 6 years of my life. It was my mother's home. It was old and leaky. Once my room had the concrete roof and I was very proud of that. That room of mine was my world. Unless for cleaning, I never let anyone in my room willingly. I was so proud of my room. That room became part of the history as the growing home of me. Well readers, please address that mention of history as 'Just my history'. I am just another blogger like you .

Something that makes me smile

Smiling from the heart is a blessing. Anyone who can smile with the heart open are truly the best of the human to be with.

I wish to be very simple with this piece. The one thing that truly makes me smile is

“When I return home hungry and fed delicious food by my wife and she ask - “happy now”?”

Oh God, no smile is more sweeter than the smile of satisfaction.

Best Accomplishment of 2010

2010 was little more than a normal year for me. A lot of shifts and turns in the life and then measuring them on the basis of accomplishment is a very hard task.

The buying of new car, Job change, relocating to a metropolitan city, signing up for Master in Business Administration Program, all the house hold appliances I bought to make the rented house a sweet home and more. A lot of things happened around me in 2010. From that picking a best one is an injustice to rest of them.

In order to make things simple, I will first rule out all the assets I accomplished this year, including car, repaired iPod, a second new computer,camera, fridge, and all household things I bought for my new home in Chennai.

Then the left outs are all the personal achievements of 2010. To speak out frankly, I would rate my employment with ‘Tata Consultancy Services’, one of the top 10 fortune 500 companies in the world and of the Indian origin as the “Best Accomplishment of 2010”. It is one of the biggest career advancements I made till date and is definitely mentionable.

During my graduation days, while pursuing a dream job, TCS was one of the dream I could not grab on. Then I went on to make my career in other comparatively smaller firms and again made a leap of faith towards TCS. And this time, The knock was answered and I made through.

who deserves more credit?

Credit  - A most sort after acclaim for all the achievements. When the movie breaks into top of the charts, the producer goes frenzy for all the credits. When a book makes it up to the ‘Book Of the Year’, the publishing house is in the lime light.

As you see,  the credit often goes to one who markets rather than the one who is the creator of the asset. In my examples, the ‘director’  and the ‘Author’ respectively. Well, it could be viewed from their perspective that they took the market risk worth to take the challenge. And, if it would have failed, the lose is all theirs. So, at the moment of victory, they deserve all the ‘Credit’. And now, what is the weighing factor? “Money”.

What I decipher from this world logic is that the creativity is not something that earns credit, but the value and brand of money that exposes that creativity.

You may wonder that I am holding on to the delicate chain of money market and boasting on the facts. Well, go through these examples. How about parents loafing when their kids get high ranks. How about the Corporal getting the badge for rolling out the best of the trainees?

Lot of facts make sense, but doesn't make sense enough to understand this paradigm. Is it the human nature of the laws of the existence. Someone has to explain. Not me.

Three countries I'd like to visit

Travel is always my passion. And I always go around, to all the reachable destinations around the place I stay. Sometimes, even more. And travelling beyond the country, is still my dream. A living dream of my travel fantasies. So, to list the three countries I would love to visit most is not a difficult task.

US – The topper of my chart is mostly because of my career interests. Being in the Software Services for long makes US a natural destination. The largest IT hub of the world, the base of all the IT giants around the world. Moreover, I personally like to visit New York, Chicago, san Francisco, the speed test arena of Utah, Disney Land and many more.

Czechoslovakia – I don’t know why exactly I want to go to this country, But wife really wants to go. Should ask her for the reason.

Mauritius – A beautiful island. Paradise on earth. If I ever want to be on an island, it would be this.

Recollections

Another 365 days passed and it’s time to backtrack and log the events, incidents and happenings in my life. Years are indeed the time we spent on earth with the dream that we survived for another year, but forgetting the reality that we stepped one more closer to the consumption of the precious sip: The Life.

2010 began for me in Trivandrum and ended in Chennai. So, I don’t presume where my year ends for 2011. It was an eventful years, bringing a lot of change with respect to career, life, place and the perspective.

The most cherished memories in the beginning of 2010 is the trip to Poovar Island Resort with the Communities Team of Satmetrix. It was a everlasting memory with my dearest friends who were also my team mates in Satmetrix.

My firat marriage anniversary glorified the month of March 2010. It was a very happy year, the first step of all the happiness that makes my days better and brighter.

I learnt driving a car in 2010 and in a month, I bought my first car. It was another big happening in my life as car was one of my long waited dreams. I cherished the long trips I went on my car and during rains, it reminded me of those days, cuddled upon my bike, all wet and filthy, cursing the rain, and trying the best to make home. God blessed me from the suffering to the comfort and protection.

In the mid of 2010, I decided to make my career shifted to another city. I had Chennai in mind from the very first, please don’t ask why. The fact is, even I don’t know. And on the third interview, I became part of the TCS family. It was heart breaking quitting Satmetrix, the manager, colleagues, the atmosphere. I was sure; it is not going to be the same again.

The welcome party in new work location was a dream that I never want to see again or think off. I have never been so stretched out in my career. During the first three months, I saw myself, breaking apart, both mentally and physically. Then, I regained my composure, balanced my life and made it through with lot of experience and learning.

And now with the eve of 2010, I am closing up my allocation in the current project and is moving into a new one. It would be the place, where I start working in 2011. But my life, is always the same, with the same people, with the same likes and dislikes and with the same self.

Welcome 2011