You know that people hate Maths

I have posted a photo of a toothpaste earlier, but now I bring you the ultimate toothpaste, which will not only prevent cavities, germs and bad breath, but will also protect you from Calculus.


This will be a good product for hoverboy to advertise. Don't know who hoverboy is?? Check this out then: http://tinyurl.com/hoverboy

India’s Unending Journey: A review

Mark Tully is one of the most respected and well-known journalist in India. Probably because he was the voice of BBC, for almost 35 years in India, when the only alternative was DD and A.I.R., and people hardly believed the propaganda that came from the national broadcaster.

When he talks, most people listen, and in this, I am like them too. He has written this book, with a very specific aim in mind. He wants to show the world, what it can learn from India.

Now, Indology, as a subject, has a quite long history, and god alone knows how many forest trees have been pulled down, to make paper for books, with this aim. Yet, this book is different. And it is definitely recommended.

Sir Mark Tully makes many points in this book, and the main point, as I see it, deals with balance. The balance that is a very integral part of everything that India holds dear. Be it about talking about religion, economics, or politics.

We in India, use some words in ways, that the world at large, hardly recognizes. When we say secularism, we mean-to be equidistant from all religions- not ignoring all religions, as the world usually uses it. This is why when France bans the wearing of headscarves in schools or wearing pagdis by sikh children, we in India can not understand what they are talking about.

Tully, even explores why the Muslims in particular and others in general, are so antagonistic towards the western culture, as well as what the west could do to solve these issues.

Tully wanted to become a priest, and became a journalist by chance. It’s now wonder then, that faith plays an important role in his life. He covers his early education as well as why he almost lost his faith. He writes about things that most people will never even talk about, like humility, and the value of not being certain.

This is book that people like me should read. People who are Indian by principles and ethics, but Western by training and education. We are caught in a strange no mans land, and we need the services of a sensitive and articulate outsider, to show what we truly are.

We often find ourselves, at crossroads, where our feeling and thought are contradictory, and these contradictions arise from our dual upbringing. We would be well served if we look this book, because it serves as an excellent mirror; the image it shows, is one we have hidden, or tried to deny; A better Understanding of ourselves, will lead us to greater things, the things we were destined to do.

Microsoft Songsmith

Microsoft just released on of their research projects, called Microsoft Songsmith, which can provide music to a song, that a user sings. So it basically creates music to vocals. When their advertisement came out, most people noticed that they were using a Mac, in the video.

They did not even begin to imagine how this software could be used. Yes, some sites did review it, like Ars Technica and others.


The advert itself has gone viral. You can check it out here. It’s definitely worth a chuckle.
But once it has been introduced into the wild, it is being used in ways, Microsoft did not even think of.
A lot of people have been feeding it vocals from songs, and asking SongSmith to create the music.
The results have been, from the wonderful:



To the horrendous


Funnily enough, I heard about this from Linus torvald’s blog where he wrote:

This may be a shock to everybody, but I have to admit that I'm not generally a huge fan of most Microsoft software ("No, really, Linus? Tell us more!").

But I may have to admit that I was wrong.

No, I'm not talking about Windows 7. I'm talking about Songsmith, which is clearly a true work of genius. Yes, yes, the commercials are painfully cheesy, but when used right the end result is undeniably art.

The thing that convinced me was hearing Billy Idol's "White Wedding" as re-interpreted through Songsmith. Nobody will ever convince me that that isn't just impossibly brilliant. Sheer genius on just an incredible scale. I'm getting carpal tunnel syndrome from just clicking "Replay" over and over again.

Control is freedom?

I subscribe to one of those greeting sms services, and usually get some cheesy line to read in the middle of my sleep. There was one message, which however has been troubling me for the past two weeks. And I mean that in a good way.

The message said: Always remember that Self control leads to freedom. Now that sounds quite Orwellian. I can see it nicely mix with the party’s slogan. War is peace! Freedom is Slavery! Ignorance is Strength. Now if you just add: Control is Freedom; no one would bat an eyelid.

The reason why this has been such a thought provoking point for me, is that it is sort of my mantra; I just hadn’t put it into words, and this message completely clarify my thoughts. Let me try to explain this paradoxical concept. One would wonder, how in the name of God, can Self control, or ‘holding oneself back’ be equal to freedom?

Let us look at most people, who I know, who keep moaning about life. These are the same people, who do not think about what they are doing, neither are they concerned about the repercussions of their actions. They often find themselves draw into situations, which cause them a lot of grief. They find their options to be limited, and are constricted in their future course of actions.

Now these are the same people who blame me, for being too ’rigid’ or something like that, and claim that I cannot experience all that life has to offer me. Later in the conversation, when they tell me their problems, and ask me for advice, I often give them several options. (Most of which are based on the plan of action I would undertake, if facing such a situation). They would then dismiss these options, saying that they won’t be able to do it, for various reasons. Who has less freedom in this case? Who is being held back?

One can claim that to be truly free, is to be like a cut Kite. If you believe that to be true, then you must also be prepared to be torn in parts, dragged anywhere without your choice, and being subject to forces, beyond your control.

I do not feel that this is what freedom is. Freedom is the ability to have the entire world open before you. You must break free of the shackles and restraints that situations put on you. For this, you may need to put some shackles on yourself. The benefit of these self-made restrictions is that they pain a lot less, and lead to fewer frustrations, and feelings of impotency.

Why is it, then that so few people agree with me on this? I feel this is so, because, it is not easy to set limits, and follow them. You require great strength, when nothing is stopping you from breaking your own rules. The limits, and just imaginary lines, no one will know if you cross them, except for you. One can get weak, and give in to temptation; though this path is simple, it definitely is not easy.

I’ll just like to add a small clarification at the end. Self-control does not mean lack of spontaneity. It does not imply that you cannot flow like a paper boat, on the river of life. All it means is that you are in control of path you take, on the wonderful journey called life.