Onam 2007

Onam is always fun time!

May the Colours and Lights of Onam
Fill your Home & Heart with
Bounties of Happiness & Joy!

Wishing you Happiness & Prosperity on Onam & Always !!

എല്ലാവര്ക്കും ഞങളുടെ ഓണാശംസകള്
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The products that made Apple

Apple has been around since 1976, and many accounts of its illustrious history has been told. This is the company that gave us three of the signature technological innovations of the past 30 years: the Apple II, the Macintosh and the iPod. It is rather fascinating to see how Apple products have evolved technically and in terms of design to acquire a cult following- starting from Apple I in 1976 to iPod Nano and Apple TV of 2006 & 2007 respectively. This image summarizes that evolution. As often happens in life, chanced upon it while searching for something else. Enjoy.

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No Onsite In Sight

Got this witty little poem in mail today (so you might have already seen it, forwarded by someone). Thought it was a good one and am sharing it here for those who haven't seen it yet.

No Onsite In Sight.

The pressure was heavy, the schedule was tight,
Slogged like a dog, coded with all might,
Worked through the day, sat late in the night,
But for me, there is no onsite in sight…

She meets me for coffee, she catches up for a bite,
As I write this stupid poem, she is packing for her third long flight,
What did I do wrong, that she did right?
Why for me, there is no onsite in sight…

Want to climb the Eiffel, see Paris from that height,
Want to see the felled Berlin wall sipping beer light,
Want to bet that dollar as I see Vegas by the night,
Unfortunately for me, there is no onsite in sight…

Talked to my boss, with her I had a fight,
But she earns too much to understand my plight,
Now I don’t work that hard, I take it light,
Because for me, there is no onsite in sight…

The future is dark, it ain’t bright,
Life is routine, office bus I will board and alight,
Stay offshore and code byte by byte,
For me, there is no onsite in sight.

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Courtesy of: Vinod Vettath, Bangalore

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Why smart people make dumb money mistakes

This is an article in rediff, which I found quite interesting. It explores the relatively new area of Behavioural Finance. After all, it's heartening to know that there is an explanation for the irrational behaviour. A lengthy article, but maybe useful.

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Free useful PC tools

I am using some of these and found them to be extremely useful.

Here's a handy list of ten free security tools you can and should be using to help protect, disinfect and manage your Windows computer.

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Ghosts and Technology

Believe it or not: Ghost hunters go high tech.. Click here

...and this, though not quite hi-tech is proving to be an uncannily accurate angel of death.
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3-Year Old Finger Painter

This kid has formidable talent. I'm sure I didn't do anything spectacular at his age, except probably amusing my parents with my antics. Will Adarsh be suitably motivated?

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Paathiramazha Etho...

നല്ലൊരു പാട്ട്‌... ഇനി അതു കേടുവരുത്തീല്ല്യാന്നു വേണ്ട. A melancholic number from Ouseppachan. Originally rendered flawlessly by Yesudas and Chitra in their own versions, this one is an audacious attempt. The latest in the series of my repeated assaults on music.. Enjoy (if you can)!

Paathiramazha Etho.. Paathiramazha by Ruminations

Movie Name: Ulladakkam (1991) | Original Singer(s): K J Yesudas, K S Chitra Music Director: Ouseppachan | Lyrics: Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri

The immediate provocation for this post is Satheesh, who reminded me on Sunday that I've not posted any songs for sometime. I was thinking of giving it a go at the Indian film music again only after I got a better mic, but people wouldn't allow. So go, get him :-)

For those who want to try it, including in their own bathrooms, here're the lyrics:

Paathiraamazhayetho hamsageetham paadi
Veena poovithalengo pin nilaavilalinjooo
Neela vaarmukiloram chandra hridayam thengeee... (Paathiraamazha)

Koorirul chimizhil njaanum mounavum maatram
Minniyulayum vyaamoha jwaalayaalukayay
Ente lokam ..nee maranno...
Ormma polum ..maanju pokuvathenthe... (Paathiraamazha)

Shoonya vedhikayil kandoo nin nizhalchandham
Kariyilakkarayay maaree sneha saamrajyam
Ekayay nee povathevide..
Ormma polum ..maanju pokuvathenthe... (Paathiraamazha)

For those of you who want to relive how the song appeared in the movie, go here.
Another audio version by Jo is available here.

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വിഷു ആശംസകള്‍

ഇത്തിരി കൊന്നപ്പൂക്കളിതാ...

എല്ലാര്‍ക്കും ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ വിഷു ആശംസകള്‍...കണി കണ്ടു പടക്കം ഒക്കെ പൊട്ടിച്ച്‌ നന്നായി ആഘോഷിക്കൂ...നന്മ വരട്ടെ...

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Answered Prayers

It's been over a month since I posted something. When one doesn't have time or inspiration to write something new, what does one do? Take some external help, ofcourse. So here is a poem that I came across recently:

I prayed for glory; and heard my name
Sung by sweet children and by hoary men.
But ah! the hurts, the hurts that came with fame!
I was not happy then.

I prayed for love, and had my soul's desire,
Through quivering heart and body and through brain
There swept the flame of its devouring fire;
And there the scars remain.

I prayed for a contented mind. At length
Great light upon my darkened spirit burst,
Great peace fell on me, also, and great strength.
Oh! had that prayer been first!

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919), "Answered Prayers"

As an aside, I cannot help but wondering how fortunate the poetess is..all her prayers seems to have been readily answered!

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Astrologer in trouble..

It's about time something like this happened- Astrologer in trouble for allegedly predicting a long life for a dead man.. These days when they charge exhorbitant sums from the (foolish?) believers, they better be accountable for what they say. :-)

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Are you dressed to impress?

With the Oscars on the horizon, the buzz is all about what the celebs will be wearing. Like it or not, appearance matters, and what you wear could be saying more than you realise - take a look at the recent BBC article what your tie says about you.

What you wear to an interview can be crucial. This article dressing to get the job provides tips for guys and gals alike. With everyday becoming dress down Fridays in many industries, here's a tip on business casual outfits. Will I follow these norms when I'm in Bangalore? ...nah!! But it's good to know.

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Sruthiyil Ninnuyarum....

This is a graceful song from film Trishna (1981), made immortal by Yesudas and S Janaki in their own versions- one of the reasons why Shyam remains a revered name in Malayalam Films. Of course, that doesn't prevent me from desecrating this song :-)

Sruthiyil Ninnuyarum..

Movie Name: Trishna (1981) Original Singer(s): K J Yesudas, S Janaki Music Director: Shyam Lyrics: Bichu Thirumala

The violin bit is haunting and the song has a quaint mood to it. For those of you who want to try, here's the lyrics:

Shruthiyil ninnuyarum nadha shalabhangale
Swaramam chirakil alasam ningalen
Manasinte upavanathil parannu va (shruthiyil...)

Layamam thiru madhuravumayi
Layamam madhuvumayi
Niraye pookunnitha
Aswadhana poochendukal
Avayude anupama naivedhyam nukaru (shruthiyil...)

Hridhayam dhwani bhara lasitham
Hridhayam dhwani bharam
Vazhiyum ganamritham
Pon veena than then chundilum
Anayumora anipara sayoojya lahari (shruthiyil...)

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Weather it is possible..?

Amidst all this talk of global warming, this is how it looked like for a whole of the third week of Jan outside, as seen from my window.


And last week, for 3 days, it snowed whole night....


and day...


Once the excitement of seeing such a lot of snow was over, it was damp, dark and cold. Shorter days and such weather..makes you even more gloomier. Atleast it made for some good pictures, methinks...

Fortunately, the sun was out during the weekend and things cheered up a bit, but more snow is to follow next week. No wonder some of the English whom I spoke to were so smug about the world becoming a hotter place. Probably, they think that some warmth is in order around these parts of the world.

On another note, it is hard to believe that we are already on to the second month of the year which started like, only yesterday...lotta ground to cover and times are a flying!
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Life's unpredictable ways

Another example of the vagaries of life:

This IITian lived on the footpath
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