information and misinformation
01.31.05 (11:28 pm) [edit]When internet boom occured, it was an ideal portal for a variety of applications, but no one thought of the misinformation it would carry one day. It was a far too open media to keep the miscreants quiet for a long time and soon they reared. I dont mean the ads and pop-ups you get. You can prevent those using suitable applications and even if you dont they merely steal a few seconds of your net life, the time you spend to close them. This is about the loads of wrong information, that internet carries.
If you use internet to gather information, which most people do, then do look out for misinformation as well. Even if you are a casual user, then be aware of the fact, that a significant amount of mail forwards you receive are hoaxes. These misinformation may be trivial for many, but very important to some.
Professor Neil Postman from Stanford in his book technopoly gives examples of misinformation and the effects it had. A recent example of people who got affected by such misinformation were cancer patients. A lot of cancer sites were merely put up to earn revenues with no concern for the correctness of information carried. Some misinformations have huge financial implications as well(AOL hoax, Windows-Intel merger hoax etc)
The main reason for such misinformation is that, internet is an open media. If you have a registered domain, you can put any crap. Though misinformation in internet is illegal, there are too simply too many domains, to monitor. This helps their cause and they continue giving misinformation. One way to prevent yourself from misinformation is to do a lot of research. Its better to be slow and sure rather than spreading misinformation to others as well.
"I am constantly amazed at how obediently people accept explanations that begin with the words 'The computer shows.' or 'The computer has determined.' It is [the] equivalent of the sentence 'It is God's will.,' and the effect is roughly the same."
-- Neil Postman, Technopoly
Two of us....
01.28.05 (3:46 am) [edit]This is about an most exciting month I had in my dad's home place. My dad was born and brought up in a small village called pandalur located near the nilgiris in south india. It is a mountainous region and the travel incuded a 3 hr on-the-brink journey over a treacherous road from nilgiris, which is a popular hill-station. We had a lovely home(which is no more) amidst hills where mists-flowed as picturesquely as you can ever imagine.
Having said that it is a pity that he found his mate and living in the plains and therefore i was contend to have only brief moments of my childhood and youth there in that lovely place. And the one I most remember is during my holidays after the 10th standard. My aunt was to be married there and hence we went and stayed there for a month. Each of those days were special indeed.
We would venture out in the early-morning mist. We wander aimlessly, for being a small village there was no place to get lost and almost every other guy knew us. We would play all day and return only after tiring every muscle. The nights were equally wonderful. We either heard some ghost/paranormal stories from an old lady or play in the big lawn that overlooked our home.
Often we ventured out to our estate, which was a good five miles from our place and had only limited bus service. Enroute, while walking, we used to go to a old church and also passed through the little graveyard behind. The way was enliven with endless estates of tea, both above and below us.
Times have rolled by and our home no longer remains(being unoccupied after my aunt's marriage, it fell down the following year). Almost after 6 years, I went back there, last year. It was no longer the same. And that made it two of us...
a few superstitions i had!
01.25.05 (1:34 am) [edit]I dont have any major superstition now. Infact all my superstitions were quite trivial right from the start and I lost almost all, not because I thought they were stupid, but merely because I am no longer in those situations. Given below are a few I remember.
In my school times during exams I always followed a pattern for preparing the answer sheet before the test started. I put my margins(horizontal first then vertical) and then write my name, then write the date. I dont know how I got this habit but I always followed it fearing less marks if I didnt do so..lol.I no longer write exams and hence it has become extinct.
Whenever I set my foot on a book accidentally I used to touch the book and kiss the fingers. I have seen many doing this, for books contain knowledge and they have to be respected. I no longer read such subject books and I gradually dropped out this habit.
Hmmm...cant remember more. Have you got anything crazy like this?
the mightiest emperor in history!
01.22.05 (2:34 am) [edit]History was my favourite subject in school and I have read abt a lot of great emperors and rulers. There are quite a few awesome men, like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Nader Shah who commanded great armies and fought for honour and pride. But I always get gooseflesh in hearing one name - Chengiz Khan(1665-1227). He is also known by other names but his original name was Temujin.
Son of a mongol tribe-warrior, his father was murdered by people of other tribe when he was 9. He grew up not to revenge his father's killers but the chinese supremacy which lead to tribal wars within the mongol tribes. Growing up he became an exellent warrior and hence commanded a group of loyal supporters. Soon using tactics and army he united most of the mongol tribes under his leadership. Then he devised his plans for an onslaught on chinese emperor. 'Onslaught' is the right term to use here for the nomads never fought but merely plundered anything they saw. They didnt care for whether they saw innocent men or innocent animals but anything that is other than their army was killed.
He did succeed in capturing china after long battles and sieges but it took him almost a decade to do so. His army was comparitavely small numbering almost 90000 men but defeated the mighty chinese army of 600000 men. Then the armies swept through the persia(now iran) till turkey. Everywhere the mogol army was outnumbered but they showed strong obedience and mental strength. Their strength was that they feared nothing other than their leader. The armies had strong formation on attack and they never bathed or washed or clothes so that enemies would shrink on seeing them.
After capturing the whole of asia(exlcuding the indian subcontinent) and a small part of western europe he died at the age of 62. He was buried unceremoniously for he was afraid his fighting troops might lose spirit. When he died he ruled over a kingdom that was the largest a man had ever ruled. He is often depicted as a cruel man who slaughtered kingdoms but to the mongols he is their only true hero.
the mind of a serial killer!!
01.20.05 (3:22 am) [edit]For almost 2 days I had dwelved into a fascinating site that had depicted the stories of well known serial killers. These serial killers who once eluded the law have been convicted now(a few unresolved cases exist though). The list includes some notorious names : Joe Ball, Son of Sam(David Berkowitz) and undoubtedly the infamous Ted Bundy.
Most stories also had psychoanalysis for the cause of their action. Almost all had unhappy childhood. Reading those almost gives you the idea that they were groomed to be such merciless creatures by their parents, rather than anyone else. Almost all had a cruel father/mother who hurt them relentlessly, both physically and mentally.
These wounds cast a permanent opinion in their minds to hate all and get solace from the trouble of others. Almost all of them had admitted that more than anything else, they enjoyed the pitiful pleading of their victims. They wanted to prolong it and some even found methods that would give pain without killing the person.
Despite such a cruel nature and abnormal hunger for preys they were intelligent. One starkling feature is that all of them were extremely diligent planners. They got more pleasure from a carefully executed prey-catch and loved the idea of being invincible. This is how they successfully eluded police for many years. A sad common feature about them is that they had no remorse over their action, even on deathbed.
experiments with a graveyard!
01.18.05 (3:12 am) [edit]Yesterday I had the honor of passing through a graveyard with a person who believed in ghosts (I don’t) and I had good time seeing his reactions. The graveyard is actually on the short-cut to my home. I use it daily to go to office not just because it reduces the distance but because I hate traveling in a main road that has heavy traffic. The graveyard is quite big and the lonely mud road cuts straight through the center. So yesterday after dinner, I and my room mate, who is 4 years senior to me went for a walk. We went through the main road and while returning, since I was tired I decided to come back through the cemetery.
The guy had no idea of the short cut nor the cemetery present there. Half way through I say to him there is a cemetery and he starts saying something like ‘don’t bluff’. Then the fateful turn came and he was facing a lonely mud road with no lights that go straight through a graveyard. He quickly said something like ‘I never knew this place’ but anyhow didn’t turn back. I assured him that I have come through the same route often in nights, alone after office and there is nothing to be afraid of. He starts to come to terms with the situation and we were halfway through the graveyard without any incident. Then the problem started. Then he turned back and started saying something like ‘It does look menacing’. Then he suddenly pointed out to a bunch of headstones and said ‘Someone is sitting on the top of the headstone’. He was pointing to the first of a row of 3 headstones. Those must belong to one family. I remember them well because the center one is used as stumps by kids who play cricket. That may sound funny but I believe if ghosts do exists all the kids in that locale must have been brutally murdered for this act by now!!
Anyway I assured him that there was nothing. Then the howls started. A group of dogs started a quarrel in the center of the road in front of us. Many others joined soon and soon the place was one hell of a howling ground!! Now he turned things on me. Frankly I am afraid of dogs but knowing their behavior I knew a group of dogs in heavy fight with themselves seldom attack men. They are less dangerous than a canine that is alone. So I kept my nerve and walked indifferently. I did explain things to him but he was too afraid and moved slowly to reduce his chances of meeting the dogs. By now he had started shouting at me for being so lazy to walk through the main road and stuff like that. He vowed never to come through this road again, even in daylight. The dogs moved their quarrelling grounds and we advanced through.
We came out of the graveyard in a few moments. He was relieved as hell.
things not to find in books!!
01.13.05 (1:26 am) [edit]There are certain things in life, that I believe, should come from inner self and experience rather than from books. I am an ardent reader and loved to read anything other than what was in the curriculum. I still read a lot, right from Crichton novels to science magazines and stuff. I never tried reading what I call the 'experience books'.
These books claim to give you knowledge about things that you cant gain otherwise except by experience. I dont believe that they would work. One great example are books that teach us how to handle people of opposite sex(heard of 'Men are from Mars;Women are from Venus'???). I dont think it is something to be learnt but rather felt. No two persons are same and how can they claim to teach us how to handle them better. Even if they really can make some difference in our attitude I want that change to come from me rather than from a book!!
Other famous titles are books that tell you how to win and handle situations etc. I wonder if the authors of such books had a successful career or not!! Again winning or losing will be determined by who you are rather than what you have read! If these books work then let everyone read it so that the world is at peace!!
So read as long as you live to gain knowledge, not experience. At the end of the day experience is something you need to gather all along your way in life...
what will we evolve into?
01.11.05 (1:13 am) [edit]Darwin's 'Theory of evolution' is perhaps the most widely known theories at present. Though some of the postulates are in dispute major part of the theory have been accepted by almost all. It depicts how we came into existence from our ancestors who also evolved into our cousins orangutan. It does give hint about the current matter of discussion : What will we evolve into?
It gives only hints. And those hints are : we evolve into a more sophisticated species and that species would be more complicated. However its not a simple one century or millenium process. It would take some 10 million years for a simple change!! So what does that mean? We wont be able to see what we evolve into!! The chances of human kind surviving till that period is very less. Thats where our science development can provide answers. The main problem is that the evolution is so slow that prediction is impossible.
Leave aside prediction we can always guess what it will be. My guess is that we may evolve into a more shorter creature with no hair and short but well built arms. No big changes in facial features but I guess we may have poor sight.
What do you predict??
places where I sing
01.08.05 (1:57 am) [edit]I dont normally hear songs in my workplace, eventhough it is officially allowed, for I am easily disturbed. But I am hearing a song now. The first reason is that I am doing no work and obviously blogging my thoughts but second and most important, I like this song very much. So I decided to write about the places, where I like to sing. This may sound trivial, but for me the environment is as important as the song.
I love songs that are either romantic or sad in nature not because I am/was in love but merely because they are the most melodious. And obviously I dont sing whenever I want. I like to sing when I am moving : walking, travelling by buses or trains. These are easily my most favourite places but I do it silently, so that I draw little/no attention.
I come to my office by walk and I sing some old songs mostly. The other place, I used to sing while walking was my open terrace back in my home. I love to star-watch as I sing. I no longer have a open terrace walk.
I love to sing while travelling in trains. Back when I was in chennai doing my final year project, I used to travel by electrical metro trains daily. I love to stand near the exit of the compartment and sing gaily but not so loud, as the wind rushes onto my face. I do that even these days but my train travels are very less now.
Do you have any favourite place to sing?
we are all actors!!
01.06.05 (3:48 pm) [edit]Who doesnt know that we all are actors!! Each and everyday we deceive others by our stupendous acting. Many a times I see a film(most are called comedy films) wherein someone tries desperately to hide a truth, but everyone can see that, except the only character in the screen that should be unaware of the truth, as per the script. I would wonder why to do such a overacting while any person I know in real life would have handled it better. The example I cite isto emphasize the fact that we all act real well to others. I am not saying this negatively for we are forced to do it sometimes for better results.
What I am concerned now is the way we act to ourselves. Too often we try to emulate others and say to ourselves that we are like that and this when the truth is we are quite far from it. And worse still is other kinda people who are more pathetic. They believe not in doing what pleases them but merely do things that would be liked by others. And they believe they do a good job at it.
Ok.. incase some of the readers having a doubt in believing this, I will pose a simple question. During the recent tsunami tragedy how many of you really cared from your heart? and how long did it last? (probably till the commercial break??). I had a similar experience when one day I realised that I dont care for anyone who are not directly related with me. From then on I decided not to act to myself as a caring person either to me or to others.
faith in fate!!
01.04.05 (8:19 pm) [edit]This entry is dedicated to a sweet soul. Not only did that soul give me the topic for this entry but she put in a wonderful entry for me in her blog. I am always grateful to you, mj. Let me start my ramblings from here on...
I have no faith in the citation that fate rules our lives. I will be dreadfully wrong if I say there is nothing called fate. Everyday life has lot to do with fate but then, do they affect our lives a lot??? I cant say yes, atleast not to most of us. A few exceptions do exist(winning a lottery for example..lol).
Fate is an illusion that we tend to draw upon ourselves. It is merely a reason that we tend to love for the sole reason that it needs little explanation. And sadly most of us even name our successes as 'luck'(to me the term simply means 'g ood fate'). I can assure you all my successes and failures(lot of them) have only one sole reason and thats 'me'. Fate has little to do with my life so far and I dont expect more from it.
I am the captain of my soul and master of my destiny.
I expect a lot of people to disagree with me.
no sunday morning has been like this....
01.02.05 (2:31 am) [edit]no sunday morning has been like this....not that i am complainin but am merely lookin at the stark changes that i have...for a clear explanation i better explain where i am now...
time is 4:51 am in the morning and since i am browsin i shud b at office(i hardly browse from my home)...the reason i am here is that i had work to do...i had become nocturnal for quite a while burning midnight oil for the sole cause of talkin to a man who is some 7500 miles away and works in an altogether different time zone which is an astounding 13.5 hrs slower than our time...but today he was not supposed to be in his office but yet i came to do some unfinished work...for workin in nights has become a habit of mine....
the weariness is showin on me and though i slept in my cube for over an hour am still feelin a bit dizzy....sunday morning has no drops(conveyance) to home and i must walk myself back home...the chillness outside is threatenin at the moment and i have no idea of gettin out till its qutie warm...not that i have the option of leavin now...still some more to do...
no sunday morning has been like this...and lot more likely to come...am waiting!!