What time is it?

Seems to be a very easy question to answer ?? probably yes, until you watch the BBC's horizon program [link provided below].

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fyl5z

Particle physicist, Brian Cox, talks about "bending" time and goes deeper into Einstein's space / time relation.

But what struck me the most is the fact that what we take for granted [Time] is actually a phenomenon that is still debated/researched upon. Even today, as I write this article, 21st century modern physicists are trying to match the findings of Quantum Mechanics to Einstein's Time theory.

Brian Cox goes on to say that the question 'What time is it' actually would have varied answers depending upon every individual and their every action.

And you should watch the ultra-slow motion videos shown in the program. Mind-blowing stuff.

UK driving license

Oh it is such a relief to clear the driving test and obtain the UK driver's license. Woo-hoo I passed the test and now I can drive almost anywhere in the world with my UK license. Of course, I failed my first attempt and cleared it in the second. But it is still a feat according to me and many others, cos it's really tough getting the license for people like me who is so conditioned with Indian traffic and style of driving ;)





Check out the pics that I clicked along with my driving school instructor who played a great role in making me pass the test.

My Gems

One has to be childish, spontaneous and a hopeless romantic to win over a girl's heart. But he has to be mature, emotionally stable and forward-thinking to be able to take her hand. If one cannot be both, then he will marry a girl for sure [or even a boy these days ;-) ] but she may not be the one he loved!

My gems

The world wouldn't be beautiful without Girls, but its the Guys who appreciate it, celebrate it and fill the air all around with romance and love ;)

Simplicity

I came across an interesting line in a blog recently. It said "Technology is great. Pencils are better. Simplicity rules." and somewhere else stumbled upon this quote of Leonardo da Vinci - "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication".

Actually, while reflecting on these lines, I realised that simplicity actually brings awareness and focus in to anything one ventures into. And sometimes, in the pursuit of sophistication and refinement, I tend to divert and deviate from my original intent.

Just to inspire you on a good article on simplicity, check out this link:

Keeping it simple

The road to becoming a Maverick. Well, still searching for the route....

I was chatting with one of my closest pals today, while at work. She said that she started sensing in me the change and that it is close to becoming a Maverick! Well, I don't know for sure but a little bit of thinking makes me feel that she might be right. Cos' what am trying to achieve is break the shackles of years of conditioning thats been fed to me from family, friends , school and society and to analyze/approach everything afresh. Well, I initially thought my idea is stupid cos' one can never make all the mistakes to learn from them. But then, I would rather try and get defeated in the process, if at all, rather than give up even before starting and continue in the rat race approaching the unknown!

The most captivating and mind-blowing composition of Ilayaraja that has stirred my soul inside-out until this day

Ennulle Ennulle song from the film Valli...

Past, Present and Future

Some people say and believe, one should bury their past and start living in the moment and look forward to the future. Now, how I wish, I could bury my past along with all my liabilities and start afresh by amassing great wealth and start looking forward to the future??? Ha Ha Ha, Juz kiddin....as in how Alf says ;o)

Maestro Ilayaraja's composition of Thiruvasagam

I am a die-hard / hard-core / fanatic (whatever one calls it) fan of the greatest living musical genius, Maestro Ilayaraja. Ever since I came to my senses, I started calling him fondly as "Mottai". There have been days where me and my closest pal, Raj , have gone for hours singing his tunes one after the other without breaks, completely oblivion to our surroundings!! Now I get a chance to post certain links to one of his greatest compositions, Thiruvasagam in Symphony.

Conducted by the Royal Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, Hungary in the year 2004. And this is what , the Oscar Award winning English Lyricist of Hollywood, Stephen Schwartz (who did the English translation of Thiruvasagam) had to say about the great IR....

Quote "No one has ever done such a musical piece." Unquote.

Here is a photo album with the song lyrics and couple of his pics during that time.

Maestro Ilayaraja's Thiruvasagam in Symphony

Here are some video links from YouTube, to his interview after he returned from Hungary:

Ilayaraja: making of Thiruvasagam in Symphonic Orchestra - Part 1



Ilayaraja: making of Thiruvasagam in Symphonic Orchestra - Part 2



Ilayaraja: making of Thiruvasagam in Symphonic Orchestra - Part 3



Ilayaraja: making of Thiruvasagam in Symphonic Orchestra - Part 4

Chewing Gum

Chewing gum persistently is not hip or cool; keeping your breath fresh is!

Prolonged Passion n Fervour

Can you listen to your most favourite song, again and again in repeat mode, with same fervour and passion that you had when you first started liking it? If you can't, then how would you love and be passionate with your partner for life, forever??!!!

This might sound strange or stupid to some and may also make one think what kind of dumb ass is this guy to compare a liking to a song to that of partner for life. Well, you are not alone, cos' I projected myself outside and saw this thought as a third person. But then, beyond the oceanic surface of this thought, lies the true wonder and puzzle of life in the deep stillness of the sea, that we all will experience in life. And that conviction made me translate my thought in to words!!

My Current Reads:- Enduring Love by Ian McEwan & The Appeal by John Grisham

After finishing the gripping novel "The Client" by JG, I have jumped on to his latest book.

As for Enduring Love, I started reading it because I watched Atonement recently, which was an adaptation of IM's novel "Atonement" in 2001.

Thoughtful or Thoughtless ?

The door opens with it's own pipers singing loudly so as to alarm the surroundings. Am courteous enough to wait for co-travellers to board (something that I have inculcated after coming here) and finally, with a sense of relief that comes from the fact that the guard has still not blown his whistle and not left me stranded, I get in. Yes, I am in a train, commuting to work, something I do from Monday to Friday pretty much like a zombie.

I manage to find a cosy seat next to a window, to enjoy the warmth of the heater that's on during this time of the year and to enjoy the scenic beauty that Mother Nature has to offer in South West of London.

I start my ritual of "ipodding" and pull out my current read. Fellow passengers, sitting right across me and besides me, are in to their world, occasionally looking at me for all the charm that I have to offer! (ok, I made this one up!).

During the journey, there are times when I stare out of the window in to the open fields and skies and realise that my eyes are seeing but not looking. That's because my mind is in to it's own world - wandering/loitering in to a maze of thoughts. Physically present, mentally absent!

Suddenly, when my mind comes home, I realise that am staring at a blank space without any meaning!!! ha ! ha! That's when my eyes start to "look" and send back signals to my brain asking " how stupid are you, to make me stare at empty spaces!".

What I realise from this whole experience is the fact that it's really difficult to sit in your seat without doing anything, not thinking about something and not dozing off, be completely present in the presence of your fellow passengers and yet not look at them.

Only goes to show how conditioned I am and how difficult to keep my mind still and yet be present in the moment. That's something I have always wanted to do or be in - the state of "here and now" as Osho says it....

Redemption

I am at a stage in life where I think I should redeem myself. However, choosing the path is biggest scare !! :)

My Current Read:- The Client by John Grisham

This book is more than a decade old. It got released in 1994 but I get to read it only now. Am almost at the end of the novel. It's really gripping and certainly one of John's marvels. This novel has been adapted as a movie too. Am planning to watch the movie as well.

After this, I have got "Enduring Love" by Ian McEwan lined up. :)

What's in my iPod now?

I am currently listening to:

1. Long Way to go - Cassie
2. Me & U - Cassie
3. Piece of me - Britney
4. Now you're gone - Basshunters
5. Baby when the lights go out - David Guetta
6. Tear drops on my guitar - Taylor Swift
7. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
8. Bed - J Holiday
9.Wait For You - Nelly Furtado