ExpertDabbler

Hey folks,

i’m having an entire week off from work. I may or may not go for a vacation with mom.
vazhakam pola kovil kulam!!
Nothing is fixed for now. So, assuming i stay here, i dont want to leave you guys peaceful and happy: D

I’m planning to write a mini story series. But rather than me writing and you reading, i thought it would be great if you can contribute as well.

So, if you have any characters or incidents or just anything interesting, please do share it with me. The idea is to mix and match multiple plots with my own so that we come up with something interesting.

You get the drift?

It will be like, one reader, X, gives a murder plot. And another Y, says a love story and i might come up with a love story embedded in a thriller format with a murder plot of X.

It’s kinda collaborative story telling though i’m scared to give it a label now because i myself don’t know the exact rules. The only thing that matters is the end result better be good.

What stays out and what goes into the final story will be decided by me
Worst case, i am thinking of adapting some famous best-seller novel plots and coming up with something to read. Like how bollywood adapts classics (Othello to Omkara), we too can adapt some best-sellers.

I’m just thinking out loud here.

If you are game, do let me know with your plots, incidents, characters and we’ll take it from there

(rombo nalaiku aprom thamizh post)

நாட்டில் தண்ணீர் பஞ்சம்;
ஏழைக்கு உணவுப் பஞ்சம்;
நல்ல காற்றும் பஞ்சம்;
ஆனால் ராக்கி(Rakhi) சகோதரிகளுக்கு மட்டும்
பஞ்சமே இருப்பதில்லை.

Day: Sunday
Date: Aug 27, 2006
Muhurtham Time: Morning 5 AM to 6AM

‘Nee onnum muhurthathukku ellam vara vendaam. Reception ukku mattum vandha podhum’ nu idhai vida azhaga sollave mudiyadhu!

I write this even as i listen to the latest sensation from ARR - “Munbe Vaa en Anbe vaa.” from JoK

Any feedback on ARR’s album will not be complete without someone mentioning this, “His music grows on you. You might not like it the first time but you will like it after a listening a few times.” Far too many people have said this. Even i had this notion for sometime.

I consider myself a gyaanasooniyam in music so i am not going to debate on that.
Maybe i am wrong or just that i’m getting older.

But i’ve come to think that ARR’s evergreen songs are numbers which people kinda liked even the first time. Of course i liked it even more once i got the nuances and the subtle touches of ARR.

But i’m yet to come across an ARR song which people did not like the first time but which went on to become a classic hit and which lingered in the audience’s mind for long.

For eg.

Roja - i liked “Chinna Chinna Asai” and “Vellai Mazhai” even when i listened to it the first time.

Bombay - “Kannalane”, “Uyire”
On the other hand how abt listening to ‘Nee siricha deewana… Hulla Kulla’ now. which i liked then after repeated listening? I am not sure.

Minsara kanavu - Vennilave, Manamadhurai.

Kandukondein - “Sandhana thendralil”, “Kannamoochi”, “Enge enadhu kavidhai”….
But i dont think people will prefer listening to ‘Saahi aahi aahiyai Magnet vishiyai’ dance number with Ajit now, which i learned to like after a learning curve.

If you think i’m talking abt just pure melody, i’m not. I always enjoyed “Chayya Chayya” and the likes.

Alaipayudhe - Snehidhane, Pachai nirame, Kadhal sadugudu, Eano Oruvan.
On the other hand i dont think i’d listen to ‘September maadham’ now.

The list is by no means exhaustive.

The point is, one can develop a liking for any song by repeated listenings.
Some songs can even be popular during the movie release but it will simply not stand the test of time. But as time goes on, we also tend to unlearn/forget our liking.

How many can listen to ‘Mukkabla’ now? I can’t for sure. But i can listen to ‘Ennavale’ from the same movie all day. And guess what i liked ‘Ennavale’ even as i listened to it the first time.

Only the best will linger in your mind and stir emotions and bring back memories. And how do we find out that category?

Oh! its obvious the moment you listen to it.

Hi,

i thought of posting something to think about for the blog reader.

OK, this is a faucet. Now, how will you make it more user friendly than what it is now?

By user friendly, we mean

1) The user should know which is the control for hot water and cold water respectively.
2) The faucet should provide for ways to control the temperature (hot water cold water mix) without confusing the user.
3) The user should also be able to increase the volume of the flow without altering the temperature.
4) Children sometimes get burns by hot water. At the same time people prefer hot water while shaving…

Something has to be provided for this.

Please come up with your designs. You can choose your medium of expresion so long as others can understand your design. Even scribbling/sketching is fine. What matters is your ability to communicate the concept.

I want to see how many people can come up with different ideas. One can even try this as a tag. Think and have fun
NOTE:
It is not necessary that you need to use the three piece set for design.
All we want is a user friendly faucet.

Genre: Tanglish Humour (At least that was the intention)

He, Gaptun VK and Sudeesh, gaptun’s brother-in-law are in a discussion for a new movie. HE is the new upcoming software engineer-turned-director narrating the story to gaptun.

He: “Adhavadhu ungalukku oru turning point aana character anney.”

VK: “Apdi enna kadhai?”

He: “Modala title kelunga. “MUNIAPPA, THE TOP BLOGGER” ”

VK: “Ennadhu blocker a? Rombo vidhyasama irukke…”

He: “Adhu BLOCKER illai aney, BLOGGER.”

Sudheesh: “Adhu enna karmamo. Nee modalla kadhaya sollu ”

He: “Adhavadhu namba hero Muniappa vandhu oru company la software engineer a kuppai kotraar. Avarai bench la vechirukaanga…”

VK:” Enna aniyaayam idhu. kastapattu padichutu vandhu oru edathile software engineer a velaiku vandha ipdiya mariyadhai theriyama bencha la ukkara vekiradhu. Enaku thozhilaalar nalan rombo mukiyam. naan idai summa vuda maaten…”

Sudheesh:” Adaane.idhai edhirthu mudal la arikkai kudupom, aprom kural kodupom. Aprom…”

He:” Hello, koncham adangaerrengala rendu perum? Bench na bench illapa , velai vetti illama irukaar. ”

VK and Sudheesh see each other…

He:” Apdi vettiya irukumbodhu avarukku neraya e-mail forwards varudhu. Mitha makkal laam vara fwd mails a padichutu delete panidaraanga. Aana namba gaptan muniappa apdi seyradhu ilai.
‘Yedhayume waste panna koodadhu, thookiyeriyakoodadhu nu china vayasile avanga amma sonnadhai nenachu parkaraar’ apdiye gaptan kannai closeup ile katrom..”

VK and sudheesh are already in tears now…

He:” Udane namba Muniappa enna panraar, buthisaali thanama oru website open panraar. Muniappa.com nu site peru ”

Sudheesh:” Open panradhu ku namba Maalavika va poduvom. Open pannina madhiriyum aachu, oru item number um vekkalaam.”

He:” Idenna nagai kadai thirapu vizha vaa ? Pesama kelunga.(Ayyo ayo ipdi gyaanasoooniyathu kitte maatikittene) Andha website la ivarukku vara forward ellam podaraar. ”

“Avlo daan, avarukku rasigargal pichikuttu kuviyaraanga. Mount road US consulate pakkathile cut out vekkira alavukku rasigargal… indha china 49 vayasile ivlo ariva nu makkal aacharyama parkuraanga..”

Sudheesh: ” Indha edathile gaptanoda pazhaya punch dialogues ellam serthu vechu oru paatu. Song fulla gaptun, slow motion la nadandhu varadhu, ukkaradhu, nikkaradhu, kulikaradhu, onnuku poradhu..”

VK: Gaptun is morachufying sudheesh now…

He:” Apdi dhaan porakudhu Muniappa.com.. Muniappa idhan moolama oorile nadakire akramangalai elam thatti kekaraar. Ezhagaulluku udavaraar.”

Sudheesh:” Adhu epdi website la ezhaigaluku udava mudiyum? ”

He:” Adaan avar site la Online Help Vechirukaar la!! Help na udavi dhaaney?? ”

Muniappa.com” Seekirama makkal mathila rombo prabalam aagudhu. Mukiyama rasigaikal thollai thangalai.. US la irundhu , UK la irundhu ellam ponnunga vandhu kuviyaraanga!! ”

Sudheesh:” Enga ? Enga ? Idhai akka kitte solla venaam. Feel agiduvaanga.”

VK:” Akka onnum feel aga mataanga. Nee dhaan feel agara madhiri theriyudhu. Koncham adangu.”

He:” ipdi Muniappa voda abara valarchi silarukku pidikalai. Mukiayama bakistan theeviravadhigalukku suthama pidikalai.. neraya anonymous comments elam podaraanga modalla. Aprom pottiku avangalum blog arambikaraanga,muniappatheverumdabba.blogspot.com nu Url vechu kootam pottu muniappa pera nasthi panraanga… ‘Maanangettavane neeyellam number 1? nu thitraanga…

Sudheesh:” Ini gaptun epdi theeviravadhigaloda sadhiya muriyadhichu, thannoda muniappa.com website ayum, thannoda heroine ayum, than amma kitte kudutha vaakayaum kaapatharaar ngradhu daan kadhai, right a?”

He:” unakku kooda evlo arivu irukke? Epdi yosiche?”

Sudheesh:“(Enga yosichen. Ella padathileyum orey kadhai dhaaney kamikarom??) Idellam thanaa varadhu daan.”

Gaptun is again morachufying sudheesh.

VK:” Thambi kadhai pramaadham. Idhaye pannuvom. Koncham kooda maathadhe. Enakku A center la rasigargal kammi. Indha padam andha kurayai neekum…anda title indha DOP BLOCKER Venaam. ”

Muniappa, munnani valai mannan nu maathidhu..enakku damil uyir moochu… aprom caption yosichiya?

He: “Unga appa illai, enga appa illai. Muniappa. Epdi irukku gaptun?”

VK:“Konnutte!!. Sudheessh!, Saaruku ippove adavance kuduthiru… Vara Aug 15 padam arambikarom. ”

He is ecstatic that he is a director now. Apdiye DMDK la serndhu UK ko canada vukko kolgai parapu seyalaara immigrate agalaamnu idea…

Parpom HE enna panraaru nu.

What’s this latest kuzhayadi sandai in blogopshere all about?

There was a widespread superstition that Kribs is India’s top blogger. Our one and only Chenthil debunks that, period.

Both are seniors to me in blogging. but never mind. This is such a nice, juicy half-volley that i dont want to miss it under the garb of respect for seniors
Going by facts alone, any seasoned blog reader would know for sure that krib’s blog is not where you’d go for any interesting write-up. But I do visit regularly. It’s useful in its own way. I came to know about the open quiz only through krib’s blog.

How come he is so widely read even when he does not write anything great?

One, he updates almost everyday. Two, he does not write on sensitive topics which might antagonize some section of the readers. And three, there is something called early mover advantage. He started blogging even before most of us could spell w e b l o g. And again, if you could write better than kribs but hardly get any visitors, too bad. You have to give it to his zeal and enthusiasm to start something much earlier than you or me could even understand. Just like the way he’s embraced podcasting now.

Also, people read blogs more by virtue of habit. Reading a particular blog, after the first few times is never a conscious decision. It’s just part of the routine. As routine as flipping through the morning newspaper.

He may be writing inane stuff. But most of the bloggers do not and cannot come up with great write-ups everyday. This is reality.

Regarding self-promotion and all. Well if a person is able to promote himself as a celebrity, does it not reflect on the people who read and succumb to the promotion as well? It’s his blog after all. I don’t have any problems with his self-promotion. Unless and until Krib’s self-promotion hurts me in any way, I don’t care.

Why do I blog?

I blog because I have this urge to pen down my thoughts somewhere.
Nothing great nor bad about this urge. Just like all other physical urges, this is one psychological urge. I also feel it will be nice if I can record all these inane posts now and go through all this, say, 3 years down the line.

Not only me, I think most of the folks write or follow blogs out of a need to stay connected, to either their roots or to ideas and tastes which are similar to theirs without running the risk of getting connected to the person. Blogs suit this need perfectly.
In this day of globalization, this trend will only increase in the days to come.
Oh, where does being No.1 come into the picture?

What about hits and comments?

Hehehe. I‘d written several posts for several months before I got my first comment. Comments definitely make me happy, but I won’t stop for of lack of it.
I seriously believe some of my well written pieces hardly got any feedback.

What would happen now?

Nothing. Blogosphere every now and then would get some skin infection because of which it will start scratching its own back and that itch would only grow and reach ridiculous proportions before it dies a natural death. From IIPM to Krib’s self-promotion, we’ve seen it all.

How to view this positively?

Now, i been subjected to this ‘think positive’ advice in the last few weeks by more than a few. The only positive outcome is that Krib’s has put up one of his best posts in a looooooooong time.

Forget popularity, where should one go for quality content?

If you can read tamil, please close this window and march straight to Gilli.in or thamizhmanam. Comments or no comments, some of the best content reside there.
There is a rider though, you should have the heart to put up with occasional tantrums by psychos who are more interested about your caste than you yourself.

EKSI stands for Enna kodumai saravanan idhu. Yeah this weekend sucked for the most part.

Me and the Govt. of India have one thing in common. Whenever we make out a plan, it simply goes straight to the ‘Use Me’ bin nearby.

Not that I had grand plans this weekend.

I wanted to go for shopping. It’s been years since I’d bought some dresses for myself.
For the past few years, its like I’m blackmailed to go shopping by my mom. And she’s successful only during the week before Diwali.
I was getting new shirts for my birthday and even that stopped since last 1/2 years.
And this weekend, I’d decided I’d go for shopping no matter what.

But alas!, The small matter turned out to be some bug fixes in office
I also had planned to eat lunch at home with my favorit paruppu + rasam combo with pirattal kari and thick curd to sign off followed by a nap in the noon.

Instead me and she were fixing bugs throwing “TD left align pannu, width a korai, JSF panelgrid ku CSS apply pannu, OAS a restart pannu” blah blah to each other.

There are three kinds of species who should never be trusted in the world.

One, Project Managers.
Two, Project Managers.
Three, Project Managers.

They talk like sugarcube dipped in honey about processes like SCRUM etc during the start of the project but come a deadline and you will be requested to come and slog during weekend. And too often, their requests are like the Don’s offer in Godfather, it’s always in short notice and you can’t afford to refuse.

After all this, you come back on a Saturday night and hope to catch up with your US buddy and pat comes the reply in Yahoo “Mapla naan San diego kelambittu irukken da. Aprom pesuvom. Bye”.

Perfect. Nalla iruda!

I went to office today as well.

The only saving graces of the weekend were couple of Friendship day SMSes from friends, an awesome lunch by mom (thuvattal kari, a typical chettinad veggie dish highly customized to suit my tastes and needs) and the hour or so spent in Landmark where I met her albeit briefly.

“Hey I’ve seen you somewhere” was how she started.
She was busy looking for some philosophy stuff in Landmark, so I decided to stay away from her:)

Whatever little time which remained was spent orkutting during the evening.

I had plans to work on a non-profit website which I’d agreed to complete next weekend.

I had plans to do learn and do a project in Actionscript. I had nursed such plans when it was Macromedia Flash. Now it’s Adobe Flash and with the way things are going, I’d hardly move my ass even if it becomes Microsoft Flash.

An EKSI weekend no doubt.

Next weekend, I’m planning to… Ok, let’s not get started again….

Got this as a mail fwd and needless to say, enjoyed it thoroughy :))

CORPORATE LESSON 1

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day.

A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?”

The crow answered: “Sure, why not.”

So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested.

All of a sudden, a fox appeared, Jumped on the rabbit… and ate it.

Moral of the story is….

To be sitting and doing nothing you must be sitting very, very high up.

CORPORATE LESSON 2

A turkey was chatting with a bull.

“I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey, “but I haven’t got the energy.”

“Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. They’re packed with nutrients.”

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fortnight, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon he was spotted by a farmer

Who promptly shot the turkey out of the tree.

Moral of the story:

Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.

CORPORATE LESSON 3

A little bird was flying south for the winter.

It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field.

While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realise how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.

Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him!

The morals of this story are:

1) Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy.
2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3) And when you’re in deep shit,keep your mouth shut

I thought i’d write about two unrelated things. The only common thread between the two is the intrigue factor. One, in its ubiquitous presence in the world wide web, the other in its absence (well, almost) from the world wide web.

1. Theory of Constraints

I’ve heard some corporate biggies talk about this in glowing terms. A plethora of sites talk about this. And all I could decipher is that the language is English:( Anyone from the blogosphere, who can explain what it is in layman’s terms will get a grateful Namaskaram and half kg halwa from this blogger.

2. M S Udayamurthy

I was in a bad mood y’day. I felt my mind was spinning out of control.
My PC crashed as well. In hindsight I think the latter caused the former.
So I had no other option but to return to my book shelf. And i retreived MS Udayamurthy’s ‘Ennangal’. It was as captivating as it was the first time I read decades back. This book is, in my opinion, one of the best in that genre in Tamil.

M S Udayamurthy is the founder of Makkal Sakthy Iyakkam. Click here for more.

His Makkal Sakthi Iyakam was started with big, noble intentions. His books has been a tremendrous source of strength during my troubled teen years.

The intrigue factor is mainly due to the fact that i do not find any mention of him in any mainstream media in the recent past. But then going by the recent trends in mainstream media, that’s understandable. He’s not a sexologist after all. He cannot, for instance, write columns like
“Avanum, Avalum” Unarchipoorvamaana anubava thodar. He belonged to the old fashioned school of inspirational writing.

He is a very good candidate for a podcast interview in my opinion (Ram, this is a humble request from me. Please consider this at your convenience :))

I would be very happy if someone can update me on his whereabouts and his current activities. The MAKKAL Sakthi Website looks like it was updated during stone age.

One google group member even had the gall to say he died in heart attack in the year 1998.!!

If nothing works, I might pay a visit to their thiruvanmiyur office to find out what’s happening.