12 Angry Men!!

Great to write a post about a movie. After a very long time. Yes. This is a 1981 movie that was shown to us by our unit head on the Dec 18th, 2010. It is a simple movie according to the production and the direction unit. It is about the story of 12 men who is in a room discussing about a case. These 12 men happen to be the jury to decide the outcome of the case. Among these 12 men first one of them votes against the 11 other men. But ultimately after a heated discussion the 11 men go with the decision of the one man. How they do get along with the man is what is the story.

A poster of the film!!

The story tells everything about analysing a situation, assertiveness, how to lead, how to align others thoughts with the yours, how to handle different kind of people who have especially different behaviour, and a lot more. The storyline is simple, direction is simple, production is simple, characters are less, but the story ultimately was very effective. Each time you see it you interpret it in a different manner. Effective enough to make people think.

I think people have to see it for sure. There are many movies like this but this one is very special. Simple way of telling how to do what. I think simple things are always beautiful and reaches to the people easily. Hope you people see what is there in it. Though a small storyline well directed.

See you soon folks!!

-SATZ

Capturing the hearts!!

The day was Sunday Dec 5, 2010. Wow!! What a day!! We started the day at 9:30. The reason for starting out being a trip to Science City,Gandhinagar and Akshardam. It started off beautifully with some people coming, after denying to come, at the last moment. We were around 45 in number and a bus was arranged for us through the company. There was so much fun while going. We went to Ahmedabad and there was a surprise. There was a hotel in which the company had arranged for the lunch. The bus was parked on the highway and we went to have our food which was nothing but excellent, except that all the dishes had sugar(usual in Gujarat)and dessert was served at the first. The weird part of their culture. The sweets were good and we filled our bodies with so much of calories that we would not have needed 2 days of food. The real part of the story started when we came back after having food. The bus which was parked in the highway was standing but with that was standing a police jeep.

The bus was parked on the highway itself and hence we were fined for the same.

Then we moved on to science city which made me feel that I should have had this kind of practical explanations while I was studying these concepts. It would have made some sense or the other. But it was also really good except for the models which didn't work. We then had some fun time together over there and went on to Akshardam.

Hall of space and Hall of science at the Science city!!

There was a tight security procedure which was to be followed. After the terrorist attacks in this building in the year 2003, the security has been tightened. Security system filters the terrorists, but catches hold of the neck of common people. Then we went to the Swami Narayanan temple which was good. The work and the articles of the guru was kept there with awe-inspiring cleanliness and great devotion. But the fun part of Akshardam is the water laser show. Absolutely amazing. The water laser show had the crowd on their feet. A lot of people were waiting outside the auditorium and we were having fun by being amongst them.

The laser show!!

The laser show was about "Karma". The story of Nachiketa, the divine child. It was well scripted. The laser lighting and the sound with sync. It was fun to see it. It was a real life time experience. Since it was the that I've seen. It was something special. It was worth the money. They do it for the real purpose. This was an amazing experience and very good to remember. This is what "Capturing of the hearts!!" means.

-SATZ

Training experience!!

What a way to spend the two days of December 3 and 4. It was good to have some soft skills training after a long time and that to from a prestigious training institute known as Dale Carnegie Training institute. It is good because I'm having something after nearly 6 months. We didn't have such training in our college. But right now I can feel some positive change which is good on the outside. The training comprised of many things about attitude, memory linking techniques, how to maintain relationships, about the Dale Carnegie principles that makes us into leaders, conversation linking techniques and a lot of fun filled activities that the so called Fortune 500 companies of the world have tried out.



The trainer got friendly with us in no time and that showed so much about him. It was a good two days that will take a long time to forget. I was actually starting to work with something called as a team. There is show much of difference in working as a team and working alone. We made a skit as a team which was funny and at the same time informative. We made it all in just 10 minutes. We did an activity called "Duke of york". This was an activity that involved a poem with actions. This was done by the Coca Cola company in just 6.2 seconds. We came close to Vodafone which was 7.56 and we made 8.23 seconds. We learned more about coordination live. This was the day. Adding some more to it was another incident. The India and New Zealand cricket team were staying in a hotel near ours and we saw the cricketers live. That was amazing, though, they didn't wave at us because New Zealand had suffered the greatest defeat. It was an amazing two days and well spent indeed.We saw good motivational videos. Hope such programs continue to pour in my life.

-SATZ

Grit to live!!

The week or so has been good in the company. I've suddenly started to become a little bit organized right from waking up, to the workouts. I've also been exposed to a new world. A world which involves a lot of nuances than I imagined it would be. There are a lot of changes taking place. Only thing is that I don't know whether these changes are enough to bring about something new.Yesterday, it was the AIDS day and our company had something to do with it. These people are really smart. They basically create awareness among truck drivers about the disease and help them so that they live for a long time and buy their product. There is no rocket science to it, but it is a very smart way of catching up with the customers. This act automatically makes them the number one in the truck tyres business. Simple. Start marketing from were you're manufacturing so that there is much of sales taking place. A place full of trucks. Pure business.

Well this is the business part that they're doing. But there is another face to it. They've got tie up with certain NGOs which makes them even more popular. There were two people from such an NGO and both of them were affected by HIV. They were given sometime to address the gathering. There was this lady of say 35 years of age.

She was affected by HIV and she came to tell her life, after acquiring the disease. She started to speak by telling that she got the disease through her husband who had it, actually. It has really been a pathetic life for her, after she contracted the disease. She says that the shop in which she was working had a boss who wouldn't permit her to have leave, which she required for getting her Anti retroviral treatment., in Ahmedabad. One day when she was coming back to the shop after having treatment, the shop owner stopped her in the middle of the road and told her to get away from the shop. Adding insult to injury, her husband died and you need not even imagine about the in-laws. She was sent out of their house. Even when she returned to her own house, she says that her mom used to keep her clothes separately. Mentally and physically she has been tortured daily. If this was not enough, her child also got it from her. At that time with no body to help a lady, with such a grit, was given a job in an NGO , was helping people who were from such a disease. It is deadly and it makes people's dreams crash just like that. But even at this stage she has only two things in her mind. One is that she should not transmit the virus to somebody else and second she doesn't want people like her suffer like what she had undergone. This is called generosity. I was close to getting tears after listening to her live. I don't know about the others but there was some truth in her which made me move emotionally. It shows how fortunate we're and nothing else.

-SATZ

Differences!!

I've observed one thing this past week or so. I'm working in a company with colleagues from various parts of India. Our team consists majority of South Indians. But we're in North India. The first difference in us starts with the food. The food being North Indian, it has been very difficult for the South Indians to adapt to the food. Having eaten South Indian food for nearly 22 years it has been something very different for the past 20 days. Some people see it as a new experience but some of them see it as a punishment. They start quarreling for the menu at the end.The hotel guy doesn't know how to do south indian food and ultimately he does something really not edible.Not to the South Indian standards. But for me as long as I get food I thank god for giving it.

I've apparently observed the way the North Indians look at the South. Especially the people who do not know Hindi. There are people over here who say "These south indians do not even know how to speak in Hindi. These people never understand." But I would say that South Indians are the ones who respect Hindi for sure. For certain people in the South after their mother tongue, Hindi comes first. Respect given to the language is not understood by the north indians.As far as I've seen South Indians consider it a privilege to speak in Hindi.

Third is the grouping in the team. I've mentioned about this in my blog previously. It is not a team. Rather they form groups within the team. This can be found in every corporate company. South Indians move very well with the south, and the north with their clan. When this changes there is some chance for productiveness. Certain people form groups according to the quality of people. Like they mingle because of their character, mannerisms, behaviour and other such x-factors.But they do not understand that team is formed by a unified thought. I don't know when my fate is gonna decide to put me in such a thing called as a team.

Something that I'm craving to be in!!

In a corporate world, when the company wants to be in the global level competition, it is very important everybody in the organisation to have only one goal. The upcoming of the organization. This may sound like something in our management books but this is the truth. No one can come up without a unified goal. That is what drives people to work together.

But there should be some difference as well which makes it very interesting indeed. Though you don't grow at the rate at which you want to there is always some joy if this kind of differences prevail. As a neutral person, it is a very good experience to see both sides and analyse how you should be and how you should not be. Every moment there will be a new thing to learn. There is some meaning in people saying that "Learning is a continuous process."

-SATZ

Making of engineers!!

Good to be back with some post after a long time. It is very difficult to post something after working for 12 hours. That is the reason for the long gap. In the past twenty days life has been really good. Have met a lot of people, have been to two new places, knowing different cultures, having different food and more than that I'm with the machines. After 5 months of boring life it is good, to be with the machines and to know what is happening in the industry. But as an engineer this is what matters. Especially for a Mechanical Engineer, it feels like heaven. Though I'm in a tyre industry, it is not like what people think. They see only the end product, but it is really a high-end engineered product with so much of concepts. It may look like black doughnuts but when people see it being made, they'd be drooping their jaws in awe. But one thing I learned these twenty days is this.

When you ask a "Why" to all the engineering products that you find, you'll come to know how it has been developed, and will be able to develop new products which is what, is the work of an engineer. People have a perception that a mechanical engineer will act like a mechanic who tightens screws or seals punctures or an electrical engineer is one who acts like an electrician. But it is not that. Every GENUINE engineer with INTEGRITY is someone who undergoes a lot of thought process to develop a product which is simple in concept, but it is made to look complex by applying the concept for improving the comfort level of people. So the key word that drives an engineer is the "COMFORT". I'm able to see the transformation in me after I've realized that when I get the answer for each "Why" that I add to the physical existence of a machine, I become an engineer. I believe that this is what as any engineer in the making should do. If this is followed by students of engineering college, it would do wonders. There is a whole passion involved beyond the assignments and all the stupid stuff that is told to do by the some professors. There is application, practicality and a whole lot of enjoyment that is hidden. It is the one who is in the making who has to dig out the "PASSION". It can come only through INTEREST. That I don't know how many students in the engineering colleges have. They want to have a degree that would get them into a company and which would make them feel the "happy ever after" kind of moment.

-SATZ

Work out schedule!!

This is something that I usually doesn't cope up with. Normally when I start it out, I start it with a lot of determination, after being so dull for many days.When I start it with such a lot of interest, it goes good for the first day. The next day, I'll be thrown into the world of laziness or Something or the other would come into my way. It is absolutely important to maintain. Certain things are easy to achieve but very difficult to keep it going. My work out schedule is one of them. I put them easily, but it is very difficult for me to continue.Especially, when I'm in the second or the third day of the workout. There will be some problem or the other. Somehow it will get canceled. But now for a week or so it has been pretty good. I've been consistent with my work outs. Crunches, push ups,stretching, street jogging for atleast two kilometers and strong eating habits have been the part of my week. First, running was a bit difficult. But then I understood that the more you run the more you feel better. It is hard for the first 10 days but, if we can do this right from my age I guess we will have better health at 30-40 years of age.

This week has been decent enough, and most importantly, I can feel the difference at least on the inside. I was in a state of laziness for most of the time and now I can feel that activities have filled some part of the day, there by making it somewhat better physically and mentally. Breathing has become better and eating habits have changed drastically which makes it good for the temple(body). It is even more good when you've somebody to do all these with you. A good friend of mine is a state level sprinter and he is good at what he does. He was a class mate of mine. I've seen him right when I was in the seventh standard and he is absolutely good when he starts to run. He is like a coach for me. He does 100m in just 10.9s with the world record at the moment being 9.57s. I guess he's been pretty good. But he was struck by injuries which put him on the back foot. He has now joined the navy and it is good to run with him. I enjoy running with him. He also gives tips about how to run. We increase the distance everyday and try to improve daily.

I also tell him to recoup himself and start his athletics again. If you've also got a friend who can run with you daily, it is absolutely good for you and your health and the same of your friend as well. It is necessary to maintain health because it is a basic thing without which nothing can be done in this world. I was also shy to get out and keep running before people who mock at you and say that you're running right from a young age(sometimes the dogs chasing you are better than people seeing you, from your head to the foot). It is not about the age. It is about passion for running and respect for your body. Eating habits will differ after you start running which makes the body better. Mind also becomes good and helps you to have a productive day. If the surroundings are good then it feels even more like heaven though you sweat. Feel the presence of oxygen which everyman is in search for. I consider my body as a temple and hence do try to allocate some time for taking care of it. What do you do for your body daily?? It is not about losing weight, it is not about gaining muscles but it is about feeling better. Experience what it is. Just one hour of your time is enough daily. I've felt, how good it is. Its your turn.

-SATZ

What if we have a Perfect World!!

Well. I've become some what frequent to post something onto my blog. I was thinking about what would happen if we have some thing like a "perfect world". What if everybody has got everything. Imagine a person who has got a lot of skills, health, money and everything a man wants in the world. What else will he do then in the remaining of his life. No thrill. Nothing. Let's take the other case of what if a man has got nothing in him. No skill, no money. Nothing. What would happen to him? I'll tell you what the second guy would be the happiest. Why? Because he is a beginner.The man has got nothing to lose. He will try to build it brick by brick. The person has got a lot of work in his life. The interest is created through the suspense. What would happen the next moment? How is it gonna be? Who are all gonna be the part of my next moment? It is this one that makes living better. Imperfection is the beauty. Imperfection is due to innocence.

Skills acquired through hard work and love for the skill gives happiness that cannot be measured or compared with any amount of wealth. People are given with problems because the almighty knows and believes that they can solve it. There would be an incredible feeling when we solve a problem. The key is that the solution is absolutely simple. Every problem is presented with a solution which is mysteriously simple. There is nothing called a problem without solution. Hence what I mean to say is the problem is simple, cause the solution is. Ok. I know it is sounding quite weird. I came to know that whatever problem I've faced in my life has had a solution. Or else I'd have a path created to the solution. Or I'd have people helping me with the solution. This is not just for me, but this is the same for everybody in this world. It is good to have got a place in the world cause there is a part that has to be done by everybody. It is not that easy to do your part to the world. First task is to find out why you're here. The second is figuring out what you've to do for going to the end. The third is facing the problems that arise in the start, in the middle, and when you go to the end. Then the fourth and important task is to dictate it to the world. This is something that is very true from my perspective. Tell me what's your take!!

I believe that the world is beside me to help me and the one thing that I know for sure, even if I don't know what I've got in the next moment of my life, is that my future is gonna be something that would help the whole of mankind.

-SATZ

Absolute ripper!!

Well, well, well. What a good time to post it onto my blog! Great. It is the start of a championship series between India and Australia and obviously the game of cricket. First of the two tests started in the 1st of Oct. From the moment it started it was the fight for the ascendancy to clinch each session by both sides. It looked like Indians were having a problem with the first two sessions. But then once the ball started reversing Zak started to lead the attack and gave two breakthroughs late in the day, which put the Aussies on to the back foot. Paine gave some pain to India on the second day and Watson, as well, finishing his century. But Bhajji came off with some two wickets and then slowly started to find inroads in the Aussie line up. Aussies finished it off with a good 428 runs. Zak finished with a five wicket haul which was impressive.

That was the start of the first innings of batting from the Indians. Sehwag came out to bat and we all know what he can do, and he did just that. He punched quick boundaries irrespective of the bowler. No respect was given and he reached to a half century. Suddenly, there were wickets falling in the form of Sehwag and Gambhir. Nightwatchmen Ishant made sure that there were no more wickets in the day at Mohali, by giving a good support to Dravid. Then the next day was explosive but unlucky for the Indians. It was a superb innings from Raina, Sachin and Dravid. But unfortunately was not supported by centuries. Then Aussies had their nose in front with some flurry of wickets and made sure that Indians were 23 runs short of their total.


Then it was the fourth day when Aussies were back into the field with such confidence, with their lead. They were sailing along nicely with 87 for no loss. I don't know where this guy Ishant Sharma came in form. He started to find a way through the batting line up of the Oz. He produced three wickets in just two overs. There was the comeback for India. Credit has to be given to the Indian spinners who bowled in tandem without leaking away runs. They were among the wickets in the fourth day and the Aussies were struggling. They were bowled out for a meager 192 runs. India were set a target of 216 and were ready to go. Just when things were going India's way, there was a big blunder from Billy Bowden who gave out to one that was clearly missing the off stump of Gambhir and was a big inside edge. I didn't expect Billy to do such a blunder. Then the Aussies started playing the mind games. They started pitching the ball short of length and it all started to happen for them. They are good at pitching it short, walking up to the batsmen, looking into the eyes of the batsmen and playing with the temperament of the batsmen. Dravid, Sehwag, and Raina were out for cheap runs. Again Raina apparently had problems with the short pitched stuff. India were in trouble. Aussies right on top. Finishing the day on a high note.

It was the fifth day with India needing 160 odd runs and Aussies needing 6 wickets to win.Sachin and Zak were at the crease. Zak was moving the ball in the gaps and Sachin was trying to dispatch some to the fence. There was some good partnership building, when Zak was caught. Unbelievably with a back spasm, Laxman came into the field with a runner. He came in and Hauritz was given some punishment for varying too much. It showed that VVS was good even with that back problem. Sachin was also comfortable. He wanted to up the rating and then the problem started again. Sachin fell to a short one after getting cramped for room outside off stump. Mohali was silent after that. Dhoni came in and was run out which was absolutely not needed. Harbhajan came in and he had no reply for an uneven bounce from the pitch.

India were 8 down and needed another 92 runs. Laxman was with Ishant and Raina, as a runner. Ishant and Laxman were cool and composed in the middle. No extravagant shots. Their strategy was to put away the bad balls and leave or defend the good ones. Ishant was solid in defence. Laxman was producing some outstanding shots which got India closer to the target. It was a wonderful partnership that made Ponting think like crazy. He was not knowing what to do. It was 11 runs needed for India and 2 wickets for Australia. Still anyone's game.Then there was the turnaround. Ishant was adjudged leg before by Ian Gould but it was missing the leg stump by quite a distance. Everyone at the edge of their seats. Ojha was not known for his batting prowess. Laxman had to steer the ship for India. Ojha was making some mistakes in his running and Laxman was yelling at him. It was pressure. Some how it came down to 2 runs to win. It was six runs to win when an overthrow reduced 4 runs from the target.That was a runout missed by the fielders. It was Ojha batting when a good decision was ruled out by Billy. It was plum in front and it was not given. It got even as Ishant was given the wrong decision by Ian Gould. Then Mitchell Johnson strayed on to the legs of Ojha which flicked the pads of Ojha and missed by Paine. Then it was two runs for India and it was a historic win for the Indians.They won it by just a wicket. What a match it turned out to be.Emotions all around. I've not seen VVS getting so emotional. Here we go. The man has proved again. It is not just hitting runs. It is holding the tail and also scoring runs. I salute this man for his perseverance.An obviously underrated cricketer.
I'll remember this for a long time cause I've witnessed each and every ball. It has been evenly poised everytime and that's what creates the interest.
A test championship is on the cards for sure. With this match it certainly will get endorsed like crazy. We can expect a test championship. What a victory!! I've been lucky enough to witness such a match. Absolute ripper!!

Math, All the way!!

It was, when I was studying 9th standard. It was an awesome year. An year of turn around. Wondering, why I am talking about this now? Well. There is a reason. I used to work hard with my mathematics those days. Right from my 7th standard in school, there would be this mammoth task in Maths. The next nightmare to me, the first being "myself in a dark room", would be, Algebra. It was horrible. I used to work out a lot at those times. Neat as well. But then the marks didn't show up to be nice for me. They were horribly low. They never touched the great nineties. I used to envy those "ninety guys" in the class. They used to boast like crazy. I had a problem with every chapter related to Maths like that of geometry, that of hero's formula and other stuff. Then on a fine day when I was studying 9th, it happened. The last, worse thing that could happen for me. I got a big zero in one test. So that was the end of my individual studying.

It was hell for me!!

A close friend of mine was going to tuition. One day when they came to my house. They said it was a good one. Then my mom was keen to make me join, cause it had come to that level.They couldn't take it anymore with my test marks being all time low. It was the hardest time for everybody in my house. Mom somehow managed to arrange money for the tuition.


That was the first time I saw him. He was an old man of age nearly 58-60. He had his angio done while I went to him.He was having a difficult time as well. He, actually worked in Food Corporation of India, New Delhi. He was not given pension and hence he started to work and earn by taking tuition.

The first thing that he asked me was "What happens when you take the Maths book? You see a ghost or what?" He used to spend a lot of time with us. When I started going to him, I started to know what Maths is all about. He taught me how it should be taught.He gave me all the inputs needed in the right way. He was a great man with so much humility. I started picking it up slowly, but surely. He used to spend a lot of time and set question papers with such neatness, for us for tests and used to correct those answer papers with such sincerity and dedication.He used to give us sincere remarks of what we've done, and what has to be done.

He used to give more importance to theory part of Maths, which made him someone unique. Nobody does give it that kind of importance. But he used to emphasize on how each formula came and the background of each concept in Maths. He doesn't judge me by my marks but how I solve my problem methodically. But getting full marks in his tests would take everything out of you, cause he used to set questions with high standards. He used to check whether I've understood the concept or not. He used to say that getting full marks should not be in the mind but working out the problems correctly is what should be the focus with appropriate steps. He instilled confidence in me. He made sure that I'm comfortable with each of the concept that is there in Maths. It was my pleasure to be a student of him for nearly 4 years. He used to share with me all his problems and used to discuss about a lot of events happening around. An voracious reader and a great fan of cricket, the man is filled with knowledge.

I was having this in my mind!!

He made me tell this!!

He spotted the patience I'd got and he used to tell me that "You better do research, cause you've got a lot of patience and sincerity."(This is true.He has told me many a times.) The man made me score really good marks in my 10th and 12th board exams. He deserves all my praise. He is still doing his good work of teaching students. He is good at what he does. He refers to a lot of books, works out problems while he is alone and sincerely does his job. He is paid really less than what he does. He does it with passion. I don't know what drives him. He is an unsung hero in my life. If I can do research, then a part of the credit would certainly go to him. If I can give the world something useful, then it would not have come without the work of this man. He is behind it , at least indirectly. I owe him a lot. His name is Mr. Rajasekar. There have been a lot of teachers in my life, but personally he understood my potential better.

Success doesn't come through the individual effort of a person, but through the sacrifices those are done in the form of help by others, directly or indirectly. Remember, when you're successful, you've got it because somebody else has made a sacrifice of something for the sake of your success at the other end.

-SATZ

India, a secular country?

A dispute that has its inception nearly 500 years ago. A dispute that has really tested the nation's judicial system. A dispute that has made the lives of the claimants very difficult. A dispute for a mere 120 feet by 90 feet of land. A dispute that has consumed the lives of so many thousands of people. A dispute that is for a low thought, mere material possession.

It all started in the year 1528, when these so called claimants of the land were not even born. They are fighting for something that Babur and Ram should be fighting for. I don't know where the other group came in from, the Nirmohi Akhara. They claim that they've lived for so many years there and hence it belongs to them. The word Nirmohi Akhara means that "Group without attachment". They are sadhus who has got no attachment to the material world and they're in want of that land. This means, they should not have that name anymore. I don't get the whole meaning. Secular country means that it is separate from religions. But here we've got people fighting for a land and including politics and religion as well.

We need to have this kind of a mindset!!

It is not good to see the Hindus destroying mosques of Muslims. Its a developing country. Only when people realise that this country has got a future only if they're free from religions and the mastermind politics, its gonna get close to the no.1 spot in the world. Indians are the most brainy people in the world. Having got everything to live smart, if we keep on fighting for just a piece of land, then it evidently shows that we're still not close to becoming civilized yet. The time is changing. We can't have cases such as the Ramjanmaboomi-Babri Masjid civil case, hanging in the air for roughly 60-62 years. It is a question of respect to the judicial system. It questions the basics of our constitution. We're not putting the growth of the country in the first place, when it should be the focus and not for such internal matters , which is causing worries to the innocent who're working on their goals and who're working for the country's. It is irritating see the army, CRPF, and other police forces giving security for a case that revolves around a land.

Disputed site in the pic!!

First, the land belongs to India. Second, the government should have taken over the land and it could have been used for some other good purpose. Third, these people should have been magnanimous in giving the land to anyone between themselves(ideal one).Fourth, proactive measure should have been taken by the government to ensure that the problem was solved at the root level itself (in 1949 itself or atleast in the middle). Fifth, talks should have been the solution as these claimants would have spent more than what the value of the land would be :). Understanding the meaning of their own religion, what it preaches, how it supports brotherhood, how it is free from the material world and how it tells man to live is required and should be put into action.

Of course, it is a sensitive issue. I would say, the verdict that was given yesterday, would be the best solution. But what's the point. The case is gonna go to the supreme court and is going to stay there for, we don't know how many years. One thing the claimants should understand is that, people of India are changing. There have been the introduction of newer generations with broader outlook. The younger generation views problems from a higher perspective. This is not going to continue for a long time. This is an age wherein, the caste systems are declining in a gradual manner. They don't care about anything other than self improvement and seeking the extremity of success in their lives. No solution, is going to make it difficult for the claimants and it is not going to have any effect on the people, who do not care what is going to happen cause they are the younger lot. It is merely going to be a waste of time, energy and money. It is just the need that the claimants do not involve in any anti-social activities and provoke the innocent people to fight in the name of religion. It is putting India ahead which holds the key in such cases.Making India secular should not be in mere wordings, but in action.

-SATZ

Good way of earning money!!

I was just browsing the net for brushing up my basics(which I've been trying to do and not able to get right for the past one year or so.Its so damn frustrating!!). I came across this relatively new stuff which made me glue my eyes to the wide monitor of my computer. It is an Indian initiative, which is good to hear and to be proud of, amidst the shame of the Common Wealth Games Village issue(Media doing pretty good than what is required, in tarnishing the image of the country and boasting about their so called "exposes" to the world, which adds more fuel to the fire).The site is called transtutors.com and their work is to help students with their assignments and homework.Providing educational services. They also do online tutoring and clearing of doubts is also done.
Gee!! I didn't have it when I had assignments in my undergraduate level or may have but would have missed it.
But nothing comes without money and yes, these people earn money through the doubts they clear. There is a whole of a table put out there in the website. They demand a sum of money according to the quantity and quality of questions. They've also got online notes, which makes it even more beneficial. Now they wholly offer their support to commerce and accounts students as most of the tutors are from the commerce department, but then they seem to extend their technical support to many students from different streams in the near future. They do have professors for Maths, Physics, Metallurgy, Computer Science, IT and Civil departments who can handle the doubts of many students. They are all from good universities and good technical background(though I've not tried it, I've checked their profile!!). Good way of earning money!! If the student has got some integrity then he/she might try out the problem to the maximum and then give it to the tutors or else might straightaway ask it to the tutor, take a printout of it and submit it as the assignment.

Its so simple huh?
Lecturers!! Beware of this!!The next time you give an assignment make sure to check it. It may contain the tag of transtutor.com. This is a good business. Good thought. One which is going to become a fashion. It is good to have this support as well. Good to interact with other people and know how they solve each problem. Overall it is good and at the same time a healthy business.An evergreen one. A good way to earn money and a good way to earn knowledge!!The place is http://www.transtutors.com/. If you've got any similar stories, do tell me about it.

-SATZ

Situation exploited!!

There is a reason for choosing this post, as I've got one, for everything I post. It is like something that is happening near them, but then, people are blindfolded by their own lifestyle. They don't seem to worry about it, but certain people do take it an advantage and make the wind blow towards their side. Its an absolutely small issue. But the outcome is large at a different perspective.

We've heard the words "PRICE RISE" for the past 6-7 months. We know that all of them talk about it. Mind you it is only for certain commodities like that of petroleum and petroleum based products and some of the vegetables that come from far off distances. What happens to the other products that are sold especially by the grocery shop owners and wholesalers? Who takes control of the ever increasing cost of grocery type products? What about the price for the food items in the hotels? I've seen many hotels doing the "SILENT KILLING". Reducing the amount of food content that was being given earlier for the same price, while you take a parcel, has become the profit mantra of hotels. You don't have to question about the quality, do you? That is something that is always in the lower side. The other thing that is done is increasing the cost silently each month or each week by one or two rupees. On the whole, this one or two rupees doesn't matter for us. It matters a lot for the owners. Each time one gets a parcel an order puts one pie in the bank of the hotel owners. In developing hotels, they put an A/C room nowadays and charge extra, for the installation and the power it consumes. They conveniently add it up with the food items.

When we move out to buy something other than the "price rise" products, we normally don't know the actual prices of the products. I guess, we're not databases. Retailers and the grocery shop owners take advantage of two things. One is the innocence that we don't know the price of each of the products like the vegetables daily. The second is that we don't have time to do all that in our busy schedules. We're always ready to buy something quickly and move. Who cares about how the billing is done in a grocery shop??Its crap right!! But these people own a Blackberry and a Pulsar just by having a grocery shop worth a few lakhs. They are silent looters of money.You can see a retailer wearing five rings in his fingers, all of gold. They somehow see that the liquidity is high as well as the profit they have, improves by a large margin.

What can we do to address this problem?

One that can be done is track the price of every product in the market. Or simply, to put it in this way, you know what kind of products you're gonna buy. So make sure to dedicate a few seconds in seeing, say for example the price of vegetables for that matter, in the local newspaper. Price rise becomes a valid reason for these people. Anything asked about the increase in cost and they've a valid answer. Price rise. It is just the argument about it that is being exploited for earning money.

Another issue, is the one made by auto rickshaws. They demand money at their own will. I don't know who decides all these. If there is a hike in the price of petroleum products by just One rupee then suddenly there will be a ten rupee increase for the same distance that was traveled earlier by the auto. I don't get the logic behind this. Even if I calculate the average mileage it gives with some allowance to the extra fuel during starting and all other stuff including the load, I won't even get it more than 3 rupees. But it is just a marginal increase of cost of petroleum products. Why should I be penalized with extra 7 rupees? It will be worse if you've a slight increase in the distance. There won't be any logic, when you compare the cost increase with that of the increased distance. Practical problems faced by people. Especially old people. Cause they've got no other go. If they can't walk far then they've to settle down only with autos(especially middle class people). This is being exploited by the auto rickshaws.


How do we tackle this? I do not tell them they should not earn. But then there is something called integrity. Everyone of us work only with that. Why can't we do it with some honesty and integrity? Remember, whoever you're if there is an Integrity Gap, then it certainly will be known to your heart. Every work is a profession. It is being true to it that matters. I don't have a definite solution other than finding a way to outsmart these people. Become the cheater of cheaters. Or else there is the hard way of going to the consumer court and filing a case which will certainly take a few years for sending a verdict, within which both you and the owner would've come to an agreement and to a greater position in life. This is what I've got. If there are any other possible solution for this problem, do post it!!

Beware of the nearest grocery shop owner!! Whenever you go out there, remember that he is looting your money silently and becoming richer than what you're!!

-SATZ

Never underestimate it!!

Sometime, two years ago, I've been in touch with these. I was astonished to see the types of these and the various terminologies used for these stuff. And what I'm talking about is Tires. I was amazed and astonished to so many types of tires. It is not really what we see out there. It is absolutely necessary to design them to perfection because they are transmitting the total power output of the engine to the roads. These are the ones that make you feel like floating on the road. But then it has now come a long way from the conventional tire developed by Robert Thomson and later introduced by John Boyd Dunlop, for his son's bicycle. Then the vulcanising of the tire was a serendipity which was introduced to the world by Charles Goodyear. I was browsing about how it is manufactured and what kind of research is being done in tires now(yes, research is done in tires as well).

What is done to get a tire?

The main ingredient of the tire is the rubber. Especially Natural rubber or synthetic rubber.

To produce the raw rubber used in tire manufacturing, the liquid latex is mixed with acids that cause the rubber to solidify. Excess water is squeezed out by presses and made into the form of sheets and is dried in smokehouses. Shaped into bales and sent to tire manufacturing factories. Synthetic rubber is produced from polymers of crude oil.

The other ingredients are carbon black, sulfur and other chemicals. Carbon black is produced by burning crude oil with low oxygen content. For racing cars, specific chemicals that produce more traction are used and for passenger cars high mileage tires are manufactured using certain chemicals. Certain chemicals in the tire protect it from the ultraviolet rays of the sunshine. The design includes three parts namely the tread, the beads and the body with the sidewalls. There are computer systems to simulate road conditions and for the test of the tread pattern under different conditions. The different types of chemical compounds of rubber, the whole of the tire design, and the stresses acting on the tire while running can be simulated through the use of the software.

In a modern passenger car tire, as many as twenty different types of rubber may be used in different parts of the tire.

What is the modern research going on in the field of tires?

In the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society(ACS), Dr. Joseph McAuliffe suggested "green tires" for the world. The tire uses a compound called isoprene which is normally got from petroleum products. But he suggested a compound called BioIsoprene which can be derived from food products like sugar, corn, switchgrass, corn cobs, etc. The reliance on petroleum feedstocks could get low and the tires can utilise the renewable feedstocks for the raw material required. Seven gallons of petroleum products are used up for the production of one billion tires produced each year.

Kaichang Li, a researcher of Oregon State University, Department of forestry with his student Wen Bei, found that wood products can be used in tires which can even improve the fuel economy of the vehicle. The surprising findings suggested the potential of a microcrystalline cellulose. The study suggests that the cellulose can be used in tires to reduce the power consumption of the manufacturing of the tire, reduce the costs, and buildup better heat resistance, better traction when compared with normal tires on wet pavements, and even high fuel efficiency. More research is being done on the durability with the use of tree materials, made with the partial replacement of silica. It can also create jobs for people by introducing a new manufacturing technique for tires.

I thought once the tires are worn out, they're useless. Ofcourse they are. But they become a nuisance over time. Nearly 280 million tires are discarded annually in the United States. Piles of worn-out tires can become eyesores and breeding grounds for mosquitoes. In landfills, intact tires can collect methane (produced by decomposing waste) and create potential fire hazards. Over time, these tires can work their way to the surface, where they can damage liner covers and cause increased leachate production that could contaminate groundwater.So Timothy Stark, a professor of civil engineering and environmental studies at the University of Illinois and Krishna Reddy professor from the same university, evaluated the use of shredded tires as a drainage material in waste-containment systems. Shredding tires into chips roughly 4 inches by 6 inches. offers a simple and cost-effective way of providing drainage for modern landfills, re mediating older landfills, and disposing of mountains of scrap tires.

Well, this maybe ok. But wait for something that's following. See this next generation of tires suggested by Michelin. This is pretty good. Airless, No valves, no compressors needed, no repair kits anymore. Check out the figure below and it will tell you all the story.

This may be the one!! Or may not!!

There maybe problems while going at higher speeds. It is under research and will be out sometime in the years to come. There are lot more happening in various parts of the world. A good composition that can resist a lot of wear and can give reliability, durability, cost effectiveness, an optimization between good traction and better mileage, something that is good for the environment while production as well is on the hunt. Until then the one below is what has been given to us by the tire manufacturing fraternity.

New one is on the way!!Until then use me!!

-SATZ

Wonders of today!!

I thought Burj Khalifa was the best wonder of today's world. But what's the point in having a tallest building. For the sake of fame? That's it nothing else. But cannot be underrated at any circumstance because it shows that man can do "Wonders" with what he has been given with. I today came across this interesting thing. It has been for a long time but I took a look only today. If you people know that then you need not read this post. For those who do not know. I'll tell you everything about it. This building is a World Trade Center. We have got a lot of World Trade Centers but this one is in Bahrain. This is not just a building but this has been engineered with Green Technology.

Bahrain World Trade Center:

The height of the building is around 240m. These are twin towers. The towers were built in 2008 by the multi-national architectural firm Atkins. It got the best use of technology award. Wondering what the technology is?? Very simple indeed. The twin towers are connected via three sky bridges, each incorporated with a 225KW wind turbine as you can see in the pic below. Totally supplying 675KW of energy to the building. The twin towers have been designed in such a way that it looks like that of a sail of a ship and any air entering from the Persian gulf at 45 degrees to the north, on either side of the central axis will create a wind stream that remains perpendicular to the turbine blades. The sail like twin towers make the wind come into the space between them. The novel idea is that the engineers have made use of the building as a source to generate more electricity. The three turbines generate electricity that can power nearly 300 homes annually, nearly equal to 1.1 to 1.3 Gwh. It provides the wind power for 11% to 15% of the building's power consumption.

Bahrain World Trade Center!! Green Technology well understood!!

I guess if we can think in such a way that we can integrate two or more engineering field's concepts together then we can come out with a substantial and an innovative idea. The only thing to worry is who's gonna come together to share such things. One keeps on concentrating in his or her own field that they seldom get time to get open to others' ideas. This is going to be the future. Thinking in this manner is gonna do a great deal for the world in the mere future. Sustainability is going to take centre stage. Conflict between technology and environment is arising and it is better to make them friends at the earliest. Let's think. Let's make it a better planet to live in.

-SATZ

Dreams!!

It is a great era to be in. We've got the greats of all time in every field and we're gifted to be in this era. The golden era. The era which should not be missed. I feel lucky to be amidst the world at its best. Greats like Rafael Nadal, Roger, Roddick, Sachin, Rahul Dravid, Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Schumi, Barrichello, Webber, A.R, Shankar,Shaan, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Kailash Kher, Lance Armstrong, Cavendish, Kamal Hassan, Rajini, Amitabh, Aamir, Shah Rukh, Steve Jobs, and as usual the list is endless. All these people have given their best for their respective fields in someway or the other. Something makes them go far. I don't know what. May be the passion. But there are certain dreams that I may try to make into reality. The list may be long but would try to make most of the eggs hatch into live chicks.

It starts like this:

First would certainly try to run at least a half marathon. It is possible with some discipline. Then the big ones go like this. Would like to watch at least one big Manchester United match live.Watch Rooney, Nani, Scholes, Giggs play(if the last two stay in the club when I go there). A live Shankar Mahadevan concert. Meet him in person if possible. Watch a F1 race live. Meet an international race driver if possible. Watch an IPL match live. Watch Sachin , play live. Watch one Rafael Nadal match live. It would be lovely if these things happen. Dream come true moments!! I know that I have to really work hard for these. But sure will do it. It takes just money to be earned. But one day it will certainly happen for sure. The start maybe a bit shaky. But the end is definitely gonna be good. Hope all happens!!

Anyway if it happens or not, I'll be proud because I've lived in an era filled with greatest of all times.

-SATZ

Limited by limitations??

I've seen a lot of people limiting their potential. I used to wonder when I was in my first year and when I was a sophomore, that "Why are these people here, when they have got so much talent? What are they doing here, when they ought to be in a better place than this? Why are they not thinking high?" It has been unanswered for nearly four years now. I understood it myself and now able to answer why people choose whatever job they're given after coming out of their college. The answer goes like this. When I'm in the college, I'm happy because everything right from money to place to food is being provided by my parents. But when you come out, it is payback time. You'll suddenly be exposed to a greater world. A surge of responsibility comes on to your shoulders.

In school days, we're with only the subjects. We've gotto concentrate only on that and score marks(you don't even have to ask if you're in the twelfth standard) . Then when we go to college, it is about the college, friends, our subjects and interacting with other students in various other colleges. But when we come out of the college, it becomes a different ball game altogether. We gotto have a larger picture. Something that includes every walk of our life. First thing is striking a balance between our personal, professional, social and economic lives. Personal, social and economic lives in one hand and your professional career and the future on the other. The point is, there ought to be a decision taken in order to satisfy all these. A job that will not be a problem for your career, one that suits your profile, one that helps you to have a successful career, one that helps personally, one that can be used for social purposes(like the questions asked by the people like "Where are you working?"), and also very good in the economic viewpoint as well.

Only now I understood that people I saw, did not really want to do the job they were doing all these years. But they had no other go. They had to satisfy all walks of their life and that's why they chose it. Anything is better than nothing. That is what makes them choose something lower than their caliber. If their profile is not up to the mark then they've to accept what is given to them, especially in times of recession. The talent is being wasted over there. What can we do for this? What if there is some talent in him or her that can mean so much for this world? Is this what we call as "talent wasted"? Are the limitations in personal life a threat to the professional career of a person?

I don't know answers for these. But there is something really missing. There have been a lot of people like this who have wasted a lot of their potential. So we can always put it like this. Given with different circumstances each time in life for each of them, everybody are good at what they are doing in life. Something makes them deviate from their ideal life they ought to have.

I always feel that whatever we've done in the past affects the future. If we failed in something in the past and we want to have something else great in the future, we really can't get what we want because we are not up to that level wherein we deserve what we want. We will get something less than what we want. But then there will be an inner feeling that if we're given an opportunity to a higher level, we would perform far more better than the others. But the point is who is gonna give you that opportunity? All these remains a question that ought to be answered only by the future. For now it is being optimistic about the future that is needed. I think we're sure limited by our limitations in life. But we would consider someone who overcomes all these and gives something to the world as someone successful, right? I think this is it. Whatever maybe the conditions given, how we manage decides how successful we're. Too much of thinking is a waste of time. Let's not think much about this. But then this is True and is a Fact. This is a point to be noted and that 's why chose to write about it. I would better go for now.

-SATZ

'Maestros' as they call them!!

Music is the integral part of everybody's life. Whether it is a sad person or a happy person. It is everything that a person wants to get motivated, to become peaceful, to forget all his worries. This has been provided by the Indian cinema for quite a long time and it has provided good, indeed very good music for the past 7-8 decades. Starting with the greats like Kishore Kumar, R.D.Burman, Mohammed Rafi, S.D.Burman, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saheb, Asha Bhonsle, Lata Mangeshkar, Ilaiyaraja, Shankar Jaikishan to A.R.Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Hariharan, S.P.B, Chitra and the list goes on (cause a lot of singers and composers have come into the industry), they have taken music to a level unimaginable. The standard has definitely become high and there is nobody who can question about that.

The team of Asha, Lata, R.D.Burman, Mohd. Rafi, O.P.Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, Kishore Kumar were able to give good music to their audience. There are so many songs that these people have given to the music world and it is very difficult to incorporate all in one post. They made a mark in the industry by giving the diamond like songs to the industry. Their secret behind the songs was the simplicity with which they made music. They were able to give the feel to the song and the feel had a sync with the meaning of the song. They tried to live the meaning of the song. For example, for the song Khaike Pan Banaraswala, Kishore dha ordered for a pan and had it in his mouth. He sang the song with the pan and that made the song more apt for the video and also gave the same feel. This is originality. They were also so adhered to their basics. Awaara hoon, Kehdoon tumhein ya chup rahoon, Abhi na jao chod kar, Chodd dho anchal, Mere bhole balam mere pyare balam, mera jhootha hai japani, dil dhadak dhadak and it goes on and on. Each one has got its own specialty.

I'm an ardent fan of the songs of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saheb. He has got the maximum range in his voice and he introduced the qawwalis to the world in a different manner. He was very sound technically. He gave those in such a manner that it was modern as well as was perfect technically as well. His ability to churn out swaras without missing the thala is simply amazing. The power and the energy in his voice makes the audience connect themselves with the Almighty. His supreme collection consists of Mera Piya Ghar Aaya Oh Laalni, which is the most technically sound and modern qawwali, Piya re Piya re, Kinaa sona tenu rab ne banaya, Tere bin nahin lagda dil mera dholna, and the beautiful composition of all Afreen Afreen which has got the ghatam at the back contributing a lot to its beauty.

One promising and but an underrated singer that I give respect more than A.R.Rahman is Shankar Mahadevan. He sounds technically more than A.R. His team of Ehsaan and Loy has contributed so much to the music industry. So much that they get every film nowadays. There are so many songs especially composed and sung by Mahadevan which are so close to my heart. First one is the Koi jo mila tho mujhe(Breathless), and then Chup chup ke from Bunty aur bubli, Kajra re, Mitwa from KANK, Taare zameen par songs, Swades songs, and a lot more to his credit. He is a genius indeed. He has encouraged so many people and got them into the industry which shows his magnanimity. He is good as a person and he feels no competition. He is only for music and that is what makes him a stand-alone in the industry.It is bad to compare but I would say he is a better composer than A.R.

But the maestro takes away all praise from us with his Pachai Nirame, Dil se, Ae Ajnabee, Khwaja mere khawaja(he should have got the oscar for this one), and much more. He is one of a kind-composer and we all know what he can do with his music. His patriotic songs like Maa Tujhe Saalaam takes away most of the awards. His name is in any tamil film you take and that's what he has created. The impact is great. Cannot forget the melody and peace in Vellai Pookal Ulagam Engum Mazharave for sure. He is a maestro when he gets in with the feel.

All these people have worked hard for the music they make and they have overall contributed a lot to the music of India. There are so many like Salim Merchant- Salim Sulieman, Amit Trivedi, Shantanu Moitra, Anu Malik, Monty Sharma, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Jatin and Lalit, Vishaal-Shekar, Udit Narayan, Kunal Ganjawala,Mika Paaji, Shaan, Shreya Ghosal, Indian Ocean, the great Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan and so on, when you take the Northern side of India and singers like Chinmayee, Naresh Iyer, Benny Dayal, Karthik, Anuradha Sriram, Saindhavi, Srinivas, Unni Krishnan and a lot more, when you consider the Southern section of India. We can say India is filled with music. Music of different genres for different cultures and all is for the good of the people as a whole. It is music for which we live and will continue to live. It is becoming important for people to encourage good music. There is no worry for composers and singers cause they've got everything. It is for the people to get the maximum out of them by giving the correct feedback to the music produced.

-SATZ

It has given a lot-What is it?

It all started when my mom taught me how to watch it and what are the rules of it. I've been watching and following for so many years. I'm talking about Cricket. I had a dream of becoming a cricketer in my childhood days. I first wanted to become a cricket commentator. I used to watch a hell a lot of matches and used to listen to cricket commentary for hours which made me pretty sound technically(became a reason for showing poor performances in tests). I used to make good technical analysis when I was 17 to 18 years old. Then, when mom was afraid of the big sphere(the kookaburra ball), she didn't allow me to play the game. I wanted to play it, wanted to go for coaching and stuff like that. But I do not regret coz cricket has already given a lot. I still have the passion at this stage. I watch tremendous amount of cricket. I can watch a whole test match ball by ball. It is because I like it. I watched the whole of the Test series(3 matches) b/w India and Srilanka recently and also Australia vs Pakistan (2 matches)and now that of Pakistan vs England(3 matches out of 5). I've become a maniac of cricket. But then there is a lot of difference. The way I was seeing it 5 years ago and the way I'm seeing now has entirely changed. I've now got better understanding of the game and that of the strategies.

After having seen so many matches, it feels like I've lived with the players for some time now. I've tried to know what kind of hardships they ought to undergo. What people see is only the money they get and criticize them. But there is something else in their lives. It is very difficult for each and every one of them out there. It is not at all easy to go out there and perform. It takes years of practice and humongous amount of stamina to go and perform. Bowlers, especially seamers have got more problems than anyone. Seamers undergo sprain in their gastrocnemius muscle after they bowl in different conditions in different pitches. Each time they hit the deck hard they undergo severe muscle work and impact loads onto their leg bones and their thigh muscles. Spinners' fingers need to be the strongest for giving the maximum amount of revs onto the ball. Each time they give the revs on to the ball their fingers undergo a lot of stress. Fingers undergo wear as they bowl a lot of overs. Apart form these the mantra of the bowlers "Line, length, pace and the variations they show using these" takes the maximum out of a bowler. I thought batting was easy but it needs tremendous focus and reflexes. It has got things like footwork, power, hand-eye coordination, concentration, reflexes, and above all technique. They also need the ability to adjust to the odd delivery that bounces or turns. I know that it takes years of practice to have a perfect follow through. What about fielding? For cupping a straight forward shot it takes the stretching of most of your muscles. That too is not easy. It requires sharp eyes, good reflexes and alertness. Wicket keeping requires swift movement of the legs, good judgement and awesome reflexes for sure.

All these doesn't come overnight, but takes years of practice and dedication to get what you want at the right moment. In a pressure situation. Cricket has given me everything. I started to improve my english only because of that.(Thanks to the good work of Harsha Bhogle and Geoffrey Boycott). I got to know about a lot of players. I became an anorak.
I always have found people criticising about India having the no.1 test spot. But it has taken a lot, for them to achieve it. I know it cause I've been watching it. India ought to be at no.1 especially for the greats of cricket namely Sachin, Rahul, Laxman, Sehwag and the underrated Zaheer Khan, if not for anybody else. The patience and perseverance these people have shown has been tremendous. I've always admired the patience of Rahul and Laxman. They do not care even when they are sidelined because of Sachin. But they have really done their job well as cricketers. Nobody can play as that of the Wall, and that of Laxman. They play it with soft hands. Its exceptionally good to watch them play.

Cricket demands energy. Shoaib Akhtar can bowl nearly 50 overs a day and that too with the longest runup(from the boundary ropes). Murali can spin it the whole day.with supple fingers. The point is I learned a lot from a lot of players. They are really good at what they do and that is what makes them special. There are so many cricketers that I know that this post would not hold that much.

This doesn't end with the technical part. There is something that has to be done behind the scenes. Homework. A cricketer has to follow a good diet, hours of workout, hours of practice, have to report periodically for the dope test, and should be out of their family(the amount of cricket being played nowadays!!).

Sachin used to practice by throwing from both the arms to the wicket by being out of the boundary line for hours with Kapil Dev. It shows even now when he throws it to the keeper. Kapil used to rub the ball on the back of his thighs and make it shine. It is actually a technique to make his thigh muscles stronger. Ricky Ponting used to practice a shot, million times and he says it should be done in order to get it right in a pressure situation. Cricket has become a game of hardwork, technique and mindset of the players rather than a game of chance (except for the pitches and conditions). Keywords are thinking and practice. It has given me patience, it has taught me about being a man, it has taught me about what is temperament, and most of all it has given me an opportunity to know about players. The professionals. I may play cricket bad, but nobody else would have tried this far without a coach. I've tried so many stuff myself with the hard ball. It has taken me years analyse each game properly. I wonder what would have taken those players on the field to get to that level. I owe a lot to this game. I show the gratitude by watching it and being passionate about it. I love the game. I'll continue to do so until I've passion for it.

-SATZ

Moments of frustration!!!

I sometimes feel frustrated because of three to four reasons. I think the fundamental reason for which all people feel frustrated on their self is only because they are not motivated enough. Well, obviously a guy or a girl with high aim in life will certainly feel frustrated if he/she is not feeling motivated. It is a reality that he or she would be bad at his/her performance. What should he or she do at that time? What can exactly be done to get self motivated? How can he or she find the interest? What can he or she work on, for the time being?

Sign of frustration!!

There are also other reasons for being slack. One reason is when people don't recognize you even, when you're trying tough. You'll be working hard but it may not show on the outside. People will still feel that "Yeah! You're continuing to be a crap again and again!!" There is always this wrong perception that people have. The other reason for the frustration may be because you know what your potential is and still people mock at you. If you're young it is even worse because you won't have the experience. Since you're unpredictable at that age you'd not be trusted. Employers are not ready to invest in you because they don't go by the potential you've but rather than the performance you give. What if someone who's talented did not get a chance because of a day's performance and his talent not used to the fullest? Frustrating, right? The point to note is that all cannot perform well each time. There are some people who concentrate on only one thing and always work on it. They become masters at what they do.

An unmotivated employee!!

There are also those people who will be Jack of all trades. But they will believe that one day they will become the master of all that they can do. Now, this takes some time. These people take time for mastering all the fields. It will certainly happen but who will invest on them for the time being? Who can wait till they master a lot of stuff? They may have less monetary benefits but in the long run they would have achieved something that other people may not. People with perseverance and patience choose to be like this. But do people around have the same amount of patience is a question? This leads to frustration.

It is even more worse when you do achieve something and do not get the reward you should get. It is not really complaining but this is something that needs an answer. If you're not rewarded, it will make you unmotivated. What you're doing will not be challenging enough. Every person will perform at his best when he is thrown to the bottom most position. When he loses, he becomes a beginner, a novice. This makes him start everything again afresh and though it is hard for him he will do it because he wants to prove something. But what if someone has reached the ends of their field and there is nowhere to go for them? What are they going to prove? How will they react? Will they become the kings or queens of this world? Or will they be humble enough to motivate people around them? My point is persons who have achieved the extremes in life should be careful because they are supposed to be more civilized. Every action they do should be defined by them. It becomes a very difficult situation. They gotto speak each word to perfection otherwise there would be a direct comment on what they have achieved. It all vanishes in seconds. Split seconds. After that they become frustrated at what they've done.

Frustration's saturation point!!

Every person needs a guide at one stage or the other. Each time a person feels frustrated it makes his confidence come down drastically. Frustration on oneself is the most cruel punishment that you can ever give to a human being. We don't give a damn about all these because we don't notice these often. One way of getting out of this is by again reviewing your routine. Trying to make subtle changes in your routine. Make little improvements and become more passionate about whatever we do. There are humans who can understand what you do. They may appreciate. If not, do not care. A person listening to his or her heart can never go wrong or never come down in confidence. But there is the odd downs that ought to be faced by every human. At that time whom do we go and approach? I think it still remains a question. Instead of thinking much about it, it would be good to leave it just like that and keep faith on what you do and do what you can do. But I feel it would be good to have a person who would be able to understand your problem and work on how to cheer you up rather than blaming you for being in such a state. Overcoming the frustration can turn around everything. The question is how we overcome it? Ah! frustrating!!

-SATZ

Engineered to perfection

Something prompts me to ask this question. Did God get a Ph.D in every branch of engineering? Well, the answer will certainly be a yes from me, after having seen so many creatures and a lot more left to see. But I'm totally astonished already to see so many , "Engineered to perfection". Eagles with accurate eyes, sharks and komodos with such a sense of smell, amazing speed of the strike of a snake and that of a chameleon, a snake that can take flight all of a sudden, a blue whale made to an unimaginable colossal best, a sea snake with venom, a jumping croc with its mouth wide open, sloths that can hang from branches with their four legs for hours together and a lot more features in a lot of animals. The list is endless. I'll tell you some of that I admired and the amazing facts these animals have in reality.

OSPREY RAPTOR:

Have you heard about this? If it is a no, then I'll tell you what it is. This belongs to the eagle family. It has got a very good technique of hunting its prey and no wonder it is called an "Osprey". It travels between air and water. Naturally, has got a good body for the technique that helps it survive in the food chain. It preys on the fishes in the sea or the ocean. Its wings are waterproof. This raptor is good at diving into the ocean or the sea and getting its prey. Sometimes it does hunting on the surface of the sea itself. It has got binocular eyes that are far more powerful than that of man. Spots its prey 100-150m above the sea itself. It focuses and adjusts its vision just like how it is done in a video game. It locks its target. Travels downward at a speed of 130kmph and dives in by taking a plunge into the sea. It catches its prey, through the use of its claws known for its grip. The most great feature is its flight out of the sea after catching its prey. It has got flight muscles below its face, which helps it get out of the sea in a flash. The V-shaped wings are designed in such a manner that it doesn't need a run-up for producing lift. The V-shaped wings provide as much air flow as possible making it very easy for taking flight within a split second. This hunting itself takes place in just 3-4 sec. What do you say?
Is it Engineered to Perfection or not?

Osprey raptor at work!!

KOMODO DRAGONS:

These are amazing and dangerous creatures. They almost prey on everything that contains bacteria. It has got such a sense of smell that it can sense it within a radar of 11-12kms. It has got a tongue that takes in chemicals at its tip, to its brain, each time it puts it out of its mouth, from the air. The brain analyzes the composition and finds out whether there are any unusual chemicals or not. Unusual chemical composition means that there is a prey near it. It has also got sharp eyes and a tail which is capable of killing a man with one blow. It has got sharp claws for ripping apart the prey and a rough skin suitable for the terrain. Its mouth is filled with bacteria always as it devours mostly the dead animals and even human dead bodies.

SNAKES:

I've been reading about these for quite a long time. There are nearly one lakh known species and a lot unknown. A lot of variety and with a unique defensive mechanism for each of the species. I'll tell you about some of these. Pythons are known for its muscle power. They've got no venom. But can eat more than the size of its mouth. Thanks to the elastic jaws that can nearly extend up to a 180 degrees. It coils as soon as it bites the prey. The coils exert hell a lot of pressure which constricts the blood flow of the victim. It also has got 100 teeth, razor sharp. There are various other snakes like the adders and vipers. Death adder is the most fastest striking snake in the whole world. It has got a nice technique of attracting its prey. It attracts its prey by a yellow shade at the end of its tail. So it stays at one place but prey comes near it and finds death. It camouflages in such a way that it disappears even if you are taking a close look at it. Pit vipers are known for the same kind of attack. Its deadly neurotoxic venom can kill the prey in seconds. It has got pits near its mouth. The pits are nothing but thermal sensors capable of recording the minute temperature difference. Once the prey comes close, the prey is fanged and left to move away. It knows that after it injects the venom the prey can't survive for long. The prey tries to run away. But can't go far. It leaves a thermal trace which is followed by the snake and finds it without difficulty, enjoys its meal. Patience is always rewarded. For the bite to be on target, the snake has got its tongue, which just like the komodos takes the chemicals each second from the air and transfers it to the brain. The brain then processes the chemical composition and according to that, the attack is launched. Amazing stuff, isn't it?

Flying snakes are also there. It jumps from tree to tree. These are also called as tree snakes. These have got a special mechanism for the flight. After quite a lot of research with the snake, specialists have come out with the reason behind the flight. The snake bends its body like a frisbee, creating a pressure difference which makes it stay in the air itself, by creating a lift. God knows Bernoulli's equation, I guess. He has designed it perfectly for it to have a flight for atleast a 100 to 120 meters.

Flying snake at the time of flight!!

CHAMELEON:

The chameleon has a unique power of changing its colour, as you all know very well, and it has got another feature. It has got double fingered legs, four of them, and it is supported by tail as well. When it sees a prey, it gently moves towards it. It is a very slow movement. It coils its tail to the branch for support. Then after calculating how much distance it has to move to catch hold of the prey, it moves until that point. It has got a tongue which can travel up to a quarter to half feet. The tongue has got a sticky substance that enables it to catch hold of the prey easily. It has got muscles that catapults the tongue at a speed of about 0-60m/s. That's huge right. Indeed it is. It all happens in a flash that the prey will have no idea of how it died. It can reach out to its prey with its tongue about one and a half times more than its own body length.

BLUE WHALE:

No wonder this is the world's mammoth animal. Its colossal structure astonishes the human kind. It is nearly 30m long. Huge size. It has got lungs that are 500times the size of ours. It has got a hydrodynamic body shape, making it capable of diving to the bottom of the sea. It has got a heart which beats only 5-6 times a minute but pumps 1 tonne of blood through its flesh in just one beat. It filters most of the sea water and has been designed to eat most of the sea animals.

The awesome predator of the world!!

SEA SNAKES:

Sea snakes have got a small head and a compressed tail, enabling its body to swim. But do not underestimate it with the size of its head cause it has got a strong composition of venom. It can kill a man in just hours. Venom experts consider this as the most powerful next to cobras and the viper. Appearances are always deceptive.

CUBAN CROC:

The Cuban crocodile has most of its mass at the tail. Nearly three-fourths of its own mass. It has got wide open eyes. It searches its prey in the trees. Rat like creatures, nearly five times the size of our local rats are found in the tree in Cuba. These crocs scan the trees above the water. Waits for the right moment after spotting the prey in the trees nearby. Goes towards it silently without even creating ripples in the water. Suddenly jumps out of the water and opens the mouth wide at the same time, catches hold of its prey, and enjoys a nice meal. It confidently jumps because the tail supports its body and it is almost vertical, when a shot is taken while jumping. Excellent biomechanics, isn't it?

SLOTHS:

Patience personified. These can hang from the trees for hours together without any movement. It is their nature and work. It eats leaves, insects and a lot of vegetation. No other work other than hanging and howling during the breeding season. They can hang upside down for hours and that is what they are made for. Strong legs and claws that holds to the slightest grip available in the trees.

There is so much left to tell, but I guess this post is not enough. But the real matter behind this is as follows.

I chose to post this because, there is a reason behind this. Man has developed so many machines only with nature as reference. I strongly feel that each of the feature that an animal possesses has got something that might be a very useful mechanism that man can try to emulate for his own comfort. God has given all the features only with some reason behind the animal's comfort. The same thing may make man even more comfortable. Only difference is that god has given man the power to think. But he has bestowed the same power in the animals physically through a variety of mechanisms, in the absence of the sixth sense. It is up to man to discover what is useful for him and take it that he sees in the animals around him.

-SATZ