"Have to get this done", "have to get that done next"... in the kind of busy life that we lead today, its very easy to get bogged down, sunk right into the rote - so much so that we badly miss time to reflect and correct of behaviour and persona that might be affecting our loved ones. Time-out, though quite trivial, probably provides that moment of reflection and a much needed fresh perspective. You may think of it as being in a magic box that changes colour to manifest the quality of your behaviour. Now, if you are in the box all the time, all you can see are the empty whitewashed walls - which tells you nothing. But if you manage to step outside, maybe for a little while... all the colours become so apparent. Time-out could be going out to play soccer, a trip to office or just going shopping for a while.
February 1, 2010
March 10, 2008
My New Website
http://www.funatoffice.com
Funatoffice.com is a place to share exciting and harmless office humour - be it small-time gossip, chit-chat, funny pictures or amusing videos. We believe there is always some element of this fun remaining to be discovered around your space
Check out these funny videos
http://www.funatoffice.com/FunVideos.php
Funatoffice.com is a place to share exciting and harmless office humour - be it small-time gossip, chit-chat, funny pictures or amusing videos. We believe there is always some element of this fun remaining to be discovered around your space
Check out these funny videos
http://www.funatoffice.com/FunVideos.php
March 9, 2008
Lessons from Sports
Landed here again, after a long long time .... a lot has happened in between, and I think the most significant change has been my marriage. And I am smiling about it, even after it! :)
That aside, it's a little unfortunate to see how sports injury can really put one down. Quite funnily, and philosophically too, every little thing that happens in sports is so well true in other walks of life as well. Lessons that are learnt here, like they call it, are quite portable.
I am trying to train for a half-marathon now, and had been pushing myself quite a bit. I said - "you can do it!". I believed, yet again, and somewhat mistakenly, it's all in the mind... that the body will follow as I push myself harder. But that does not seem to be the case. I over-exerted myself too early, and 3 weeks to go, I am unable to run at all due to my painful shin-splints. (Read up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints). Maybe I lost a little patience too in between, and need to take things a little slower, and pay more attention to my body, than the mind. Cause at times, demotivation is more easily tackled than a bad sprain.
That's all!
I am applying some ice-pack now to heal. Wish me good luck!
That aside, it's a little unfortunate to see how sports injury can really put one down. Quite funnily, and philosophically too, every little thing that happens in sports is so well true in other walks of life as well. Lessons that are learnt here, like they call it, are quite portable.
I am trying to train for a half-marathon now, and had been pushing myself quite a bit. I said - "you can do it!". I believed, yet again, and somewhat mistakenly, it's all in the mind... that the body will follow as I push myself harder. But that does not seem to be the case. I over-exerted myself too early, and 3 weeks to go, I am unable to run at all due to my painful shin-splints. (Read up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_splints). Maybe I lost a little patience too in between, and need to take things a little slower, and pay more attention to my body, than the mind. Cause at times, demotivation is more easily tackled than a bad sprain.
That's all!
I am applying some ice-pack now to heal. Wish me good luck!
March 30, 2007
Funtional Chaos vs. Overhead Order
This is quite a transition phase for us. The British Empire has left a lot of influence on the way we do things - with a lot of order and discipline, that is. There is greater emphasis on show, rather that function. Today that is slowly changing with the growing influence of the West and the Americas. Order is important, discipline is required, but not at the cost of time or effort. We are changing to put more emphasis on function and value. "Meretricious ornamentation" is emerging as an old fad.Some examples: Words that spell and pronounce differently, are hard to learn and are slowly getting replaced by the more American phonetic spellings. Design and architecture ideas are shifting from curves and ornamentation to more lines and functional value. Intricate & colorful ads are getting replaced by solid and bold expressions.
I think this is a good trend. Saves time and effort.
Functional Chaos is better than order that adds unnecessary overhead.
March 18, 2007
On Astrology
"The Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan is quite a worthy read. I found answers to a few questions and also a certain "certification" of my views on astrology and pseudoscience. If you get hold of the text or an audio book, it should be a good experience, I can promise. With this prelude, let me talk about my views on calling astrology a "science" and on why people are so inclined to do that.
Science is a discipline that tries to model observations, frame laws that is the "best-fit" to these observations - much like a regression problem - with the sole intent of being able to predict similar observations in the future, given the same conditions. And in doing so, science makes assumptions regarding the unknown. However, every bit of observation is recorded, documented and on request, must be made available for demonstration. Science as we know it, is open and honest. Much to the extent that if any day a new observation invalidates the assumptions or predictions based on an accepted law, a new law is formed, albeit debated vigorously and finally accepted as a better fitting model for the observation. The invalidation of Newton's Laws of Motion by Einstien's Theory of Relativity in quantum space is one striking example from history.
Belief is a cognitive content that is held as true [1]. Often we can't say where we got a certain belief from. Though much of what we believe is not a result of scientific reasoning or experience, but rather from some idea lying about in our minds. [2]. One of the best examples is our belief in God. And quite noticeably our conviction, as well as the vast differences in the various forms of this belief is striking.
Science and Belief are thus two poles of our cognitive mind.
In our everlasting lust for reason, on one hand we practice science for everything we know and can prove through experiments.
On the other hand, we form and propagate notions and beliefs about why things are the way they are, and how the possible existence of a set of rules or power might help us understand the world better.
Hypothesis, in science, is a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations. This, according to me, is well comparable to a belief - a theory that has not been proved.
Pseudoscience is an activity resembling science but based on notions, beliefs and assumptions that have not been scientifically proven. Advocating pseudosciences, such as astrology, as being scientific is foolish and harmful.
Astrology is a belief that stars and planets around us influence our behavior and future. And that by understanding this relationship, it is possible to "predict" the future. In history, astrology was largely supported by the royals, which in turn helped flourish the science of astronomy. Much of our early and precise knowledge of the stars and planets, eclipses and tides and over-romanticized names for constellation owe their bit to astrology. I have no objection about either believing in God or believing in the false security of being able to predict our own lives. Our experiences and convictions make us all very different from each other, very humane and susceptible. I would love to see a day when we start believing in taking charge of our destiny, rather than wait for the mammoth planets and gigantic stars to dictate our meager future. I always think they are made for some grander things, such as creating a supernova spectacle or supporting the evolution of life from scratch. That aside, I do understand that the need to know the future is immense. Be it through science or astrology.
But the inability to separate what is right, from what feels good [3] is shocking. For astrology has not
Objectionable and cheap to a great extent however is purporting astrology as science through violation of reason and through the use of weak sentiments around knowing the future.
Astrology is a non-scientific belief. And it is best to keep it that way.
Science is a discipline that tries to model observations, frame laws that is the "best-fit" to these observations - much like a regression problem - with the sole intent of being able to predict similar observations in the future, given the same conditions. And in doing so, science makes assumptions regarding the unknown. However, every bit of observation is recorded, documented and on request, must be made available for demonstration. Science as we know it, is open and honest. Much to the extent that if any day a new observation invalidates the assumptions or predictions based on an accepted law, a new law is formed, albeit debated vigorously and finally accepted as a better fitting model for the observation. The invalidation of Newton's Laws of Motion by Einstien's Theory of Relativity in quantum space is one striking example from history.
Belief is a cognitive content that is held as true [1]. Often we can't say where we got a certain belief from. Though much of what we believe is not a result of scientific reasoning or experience, but rather from some idea lying about in our minds. [2]. One of the best examples is our belief in God. And quite noticeably our conviction, as well as the vast differences in the various forms of this belief is striking.
Science and Belief are thus two poles of our cognitive mind.
In our everlasting lust for reason, on one hand we practice science for everything we know and can prove through experiments.
On the other hand, we form and propagate notions and beliefs about why things are the way they are, and how the possible existence of a set of rules or power might help us understand the world better.
Hypothesis, in science, is a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations. This, according to me, is well comparable to a belief - a theory that has not been proved.
Pseudoscience is an activity resembling science but based on notions, beliefs and assumptions that have not been scientifically proven. Advocating pseudosciences, such as astrology, as being scientific is foolish and harmful.
Astrology is a belief that stars and planets around us influence our behavior and future. And that by understanding this relationship, it is possible to "predict" the future. In history, astrology was largely supported by the royals, which in turn helped flourish the science of astronomy. Much of our early and precise knowledge of the stars and planets, eclipses and tides and over-romanticized names for constellation owe their bit to astrology. I have no objection about either believing in God or believing in the false security of being able to predict our own lives. Our experiences and convictions make us all very different from each other, very humane and susceptible. I would love to see a day when we start believing in taking charge of our destiny, rather than wait for the mammoth planets and gigantic stars to dictate our meager future. I always think they are made for some grander things, such as creating a supernova spectacle or supporting the evolution of life from scratch. That aside, I do understand that the need to know the future is immense. Be it through science or astrology.
But the inability to separate what is right, from what feels good [3] is shocking. For astrology has not
- been able to prove the exact nature of influence of the heavenly bodies on our individual & immediate future
- opened itself up for scrutiny through more logical and scientific means
- been documenting predictions and outcomes, to make more conclusive and factual records of its success or failure
- grown over it's follies & limitations by opening up to criticism and rework
Objectionable and cheap to a great extent however is purporting astrology as science through violation of reason and through the use of weak sentiments around knowing the future.
Astrology is a non-scientific belief. And it is best to keep it that way.
April 3, 2005
March 22, 2005
A deep thought
I am writing this mail just for myself. What really counts is the act of writing. I really have nobody to send it to. I think it's all true. It's actually starts very simple. Marked by the joy of birth, there is only one path to follow. Everybody does it - matures. Right or wrong, good or bad is secondary. I forget my simpler start, but I remember my simple evolution. No needs, no pains. Basic love and affection. Parents, brothers, friends - that is all that matter. The little joy of a gift (like the scrabble game I got on my birthday) or the little jealousy of missing out on love (like my brother got a the pen for his), and then all that slowly vanish - making way for the new joys and pains, still small and simple.
It is still there. Just that it is lying at that corner, crouching to make space for the bigger brother - ever hungry to eat up more space. Hungry of ambition, of money, of power or self esteem. Do I care? I am of course better than the boy who comes in the morning to deliver my paper. I do not have to wake up so early - even before the street lights are out. Isn't that at least one reason to be happy about? That the world has given me a little more than so many others (a couple of billions to start my count). Just a little reason to say I already have more, why do I need so much? So much, that I can't even handle. Making my life complicated and intertwined with the chains of desire and failures...
Simple living... simple thinking... simplicity in action and thought... and without sounding poetic, getting the joys back from childhood... no mobile phone, no digital camera, no fancy shoes, no car, no bike, no expensive vacations, no flashy parties, no pubs, no discotheques, no "girlfriend"... but the things that really matter - kiss from my mom, hug from my brother, night out on the roof with friends... and giving back all that's calling me... giving back to the people I have taken it from... and reaching out beyond my own little world that hurts, since I am sometimes so alone...
Everybody hurts. you are not alone - REM
It is still there. Just that it is lying at that corner, crouching to make space for the bigger brother - ever hungry to eat up more space. Hungry of ambition, of money, of power or self esteem. Do I care? I am of course better than the boy who comes in the morning to deliver my paper. I do not have to wake up so early - even before the street lights are out. Isn't that at least one reason to be happy about? That the world has given me a little more than so many others (a couple of billions to start my count). Just a little reason to say I already have more, why do I need so much? So much, that I can't even handle. Making my life complicated and intertwined with the chains of desire and failures...
Simple living... simple thinking... simplicity in action and thought... and without sounding poetic, getting the joys back from childhood... no mobile phone, no digital camera, no fancy shoes, no car, no bike, no expensive vacations, no flashy parties, no pubs, no discotheques, no "girlfriend"... but the things that really matter - kiss from my mom, hug from my brother, night out on the roof with friends... and giving back all that's calling me... giving back to the people I have taken it from... and reaching out beyond my own little world that hurts, since I am sometimes so alone...
Everybody hurts. you are not alone - REM
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