LET ME HAVE A NAP TILL MY COMPUTER BOOTS UP !!!

LET ME HAVE A NAP TILL MY COMPUTER BOOTS UP !!!

Old timers may not have forgotten the operating system MS-DOS. Ok, pretty good it was. Type the command on “C PROMPT” and the old 386 system shall carry out the needful for you. Sometimes in the middle of 1995, I got introduced to a 486 system with 4M.B.Ram and Window 3.1 operating system. Well, well,well. Put your palm on the back of the mouse and make the mouse to crawl, the Window shall take you to different doors. Pretty exciting it was too. But one important aspect we did not notice or choose to ignore amongst the din and bustles, hurrah and hoopla of the mouse’s clicks is the time consumed for the computer to start in new operating system called “WINDOW.” We have traveled a long way since then and the “starting time of computer” has now assumed an irritating and disgusting amplitude.

Well, as soon as you reach office you can start your computer and go the refreshing room and refresh yourself by splashing some cool water on the face and have a glass of plain water and comeback, your computer is still in start mode with many messages rolling in the screen, which mostly we do not understand. Experts say that there are many reasons for this sluggish start up of Windows.

Windows is pretty big.

Megabytes of instructions to follow i.e. starting from opening up applications to checking what is in memory.

Windows PC comes with a whole bunch of stuffs, we do not need. Starting all the programs takes time.

If the computer is loaded with anti-virus software, it too consumes time.

Unusual long time may be due to problem with a driver or a registry.

But the world is changing fast. Apple’s recently launched laptop, Air, has quick boot-up time as it comes with an optional Solid State Drive for data storage. Unlike hard drives, SSDs work on flash memory and require no moving parts to operate. This consumes less power and boots-up faster.

World largest chipmaker Intel is developing hardware and software that will shorten boot times. But before it hits market we can try some other thing.

Now Device VM, a startup based in Silicon Valley, has a product that circumvents the everlasting boot-up. The company has recently released a tiny piece of software that, when integrated with common computer hardware, gives users the option to boot either Windows or a faster, less-complex operating system called Splashtop. Depending on the hardware and Splashtop settings, a person using the software--which is based on the open-source operating system Linux--can start surfing the Web or watching a DVD in less than 20 seconds, and, in some cases, in less than five.

Hitting the power button on any computer loads software called the basic input-output system, or BIOS, which is often stored in flash memory. The BIOS checks for hardware drivers and sets up the operating system. Splashtop is embedded in the BIOS, so it starts before the operating system is up and running. The user sees a screen with a simple interface offering a handful of options, including launching the Firefox Web browser, a media player, Skype, or an instant-messaging program, or allowing Windows to boot. The applications are stored in a flash-memory chip on the motherboard, so they can be quickly accessed--even if the hard drive fails.

DeviceVM is not alone in its effort to give people a way to bypass Windows. Phoenix Technologies, a company that develops BIOSes that run on many computers, recently announced a technology called HyperSpace, a lightweight operating system that launches at the same time Windows does. (DeviceVM is also developing a version of Splashtop that can boot alongside Windows.) HyperSpace is expected to be available in laptops very soon.

OK, till these products become popular, enjoy your time in refreshing room as PC boots up.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: “EXPERIENCE OR SCIENCE?”, “PLANTS LISTEN TO MUSIC?”,

RANDOM THOUGHTS: “EXPERIENCE OR SCIENCE?”, “PLANTS LISTEN TO MUSIC?”, “INDIAN SCIENTIST” AND “SIR JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE.”

In my school days, I remember listening to songs from “Radio Ceylon” or “Bhivida Bharati” while doing Mathematics. My mother was not all that happy with my style of studying and every now and then she used to ask,” Are you studying or listening to music?” Well, in my childhood I was known for my all absorbing and gulping attitude. I shall go on listening to others and shall never react to, even provoked. But sometimes I used to answer my mother queries with a very low voice to defend my radio listening habit. “Well, I am listening to one sound i.e. music from radio instead of many unnecessary sounds.” But as usual she would complain but she never insisted that I should switch off the radio. Perhaps, internally she was convinced as I was that listening to radio is probably helping me more in concentrating studies.

Looking back I could only say,” yes, listening to music did help in my study.” Well, it is my experience and belief only. I am no scientist to prove it scientifically. But universally it is accepted that music does help. Perhaps there is no scientific method available to quantify that. But experience is the greatest teacher. If collective experiences say something is good then it must be good. Perhaps science has not matured or evolved enough to prove our experiences within acceptable parameters, methodologies, and norms of science. But let us not reject our experiences as a dogma or for that matter as a psychosomatic manifestation. If “it” works let us accept “it” works. Be sure, one day it shall be scientifically proved and you should not reject it or keep it aside till it is scientifically proved. But one word of caution here. Do not get carried away with “experiences” only. Your act resulting out of “experiences” shall act only as a complement to what has already been scientifically proved, not as a supplement or not as a substitute. In other words “experiences” and “science” shall go hand by hand, not against each other.

Persons like me who are from rural back ground would remember that in our childhood when we fall sick our Grand Papa or Grand Mom while taking us to nearest health centre or coming back from the health centre, would also pay a visit to the village priest. The priest would utter some semi audible and sacred hymn called MANTRA and move his hand over the body of the sick person while not touching it as if he is sweeping away the dirt. Sometimes the priest would touch only the forehead, back, palms, and feet of the sick person. I firmly believe the so called modern alternative methods of treatment called “PARANIC HEALING”, “REIKI” and so many of those tribes are the offshoot of Indian “Mantra Method” though it is claimed that “Reiki” had its origin at Japan and “Pranic Healing” is from Philippines.

Ok, coming back to my “Radio Ceylon” experience, I must confess that I a firm believer in productive and therapeutic value (See my blog on “Therapeutic value of Indian classical music”) of music. So when I heard and saw this news article in popular news channel of NDTV INDIA that a farmer in Indian state of Punjab has managed to improve the yield of the crop by broadcasting Indian classical music twice in a day in his cultivation field, I was but excited. See this video.

CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR CROPS.

Memory goes back again to my primary school days when I studied about Indian scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose who way back in 1927 had scientifically proved that plants have nervous system. In his research in plant stimuli, he had shown with the help of his newly invented Crescograph that plants responded to various stimuli as if they had nervous systems like that of animals. He therefore found a parallelism between animal and plant tissues. His experiments showed that plants grow faster in pleasant music and its growth retards in noise or harsh sound.

Believe me my friend I studied about Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose in my fifth class literature book. Never in a science book. Till today it is never taught in science book. My son confirms that he too studied about Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose in his fifth class Hindi language book. There is no mention about Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose in his science book.

Alas, this is India and this is all about Indian. It is a crying shame and not a crowning glory that we are never taught about our scientists and their scientific discoveries. Who discovered Radio transmission system? I know answer will be univocal \u201cMarconi.\u201d Not, Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose!!!

Many salutes to that Indian farmer of the state of Punjab. Thanks a lot that you have brought back the memory of SIR JAGADISH CHANDRA BOSE.

JALLIKATTU,BULL TAMING/BULL FIGHTING IN INDIAN STYLE.

The Sunday edition of Indian Express, a popular daily in India screams in the front page:

TAMIL NADU WANTS BAN ON BULL FIGHT (JALLIKATTU) REVOKED. THE TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT WILL FILE AN APPEAL BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA SEEKING TO VACATE THE BAN ON JALLIKATTU OR BULL FIGHTING.

Ok. Again I may sound controversial. But I feel very strongly against this tradition of JALLIKATTU/BULL FIGHTING/BULL TAMING. I am not a pro-animal activist who is supporting the ban in the name of cruelty towards the animal. Nor am I a so called pseudo-modernist who abhors anything which has something to do with Indian tradition. But can we justify the loss of human life in the name of tradition, sports, velour, and bravery?

Now my friends who wants to know about JALLIKATTU, please read on this article reproduced from 13^th February 2005 edition of “The Hindu,” a leading English daily of India.

A LONE bull against several hundred young men. But the contest is fairly even. When the animal is not running away from the men, the men are running away from the animal. In the end, however, the bull, though badly bruised, would have accounted for three or four youths: all gored to death.

Every year, about the time of Pongal, the harvest festival, the southern districts of Tamil Nadu play host to jallikattu, a rural sport that involves the taming of a bull by a crowd of unarmed youths in an open arena. Young men try to prove their valour by holding on to the hump of the bull for as long as they can. In the process, many are pierced by the horns, many more injured in the stampede caused by those fleeing from the scene of action, and the animal is put through great suffering. But the sport endures.

The origins of jallikattu date back several centuries. However, what was once a test of strength that pitted one man against a raging bull is now a free-for-all in a large open space. In the past, contenders for salli or coins in a kattu or bundle tied between the horns of the bull could also hope to win a bride from among the women who watched the game. Now, however, the rewards are household articles and some cash: young women are not so easily enamoured by bull-tamers. Fame too does not last for more than a few weeks and rarely travels beyond the hero's native village.

Jallikattu is then an adventure sport. Flirting with danger is intrinsic to it. Without the fear and the danger, there is no thrill. The young men get a kick out of overcoming their fear, and not in being oblivious to the danger. Thus the most ferocious and specially trained bulls are chosen; the horns are sharpened. Sometimes, the animals have lime squeezed into their eyes to make them wild; at other times, they are fed with liquor or their tail is twisted or bitten to achieve the same purpose.

The bull taming in Alanganallur, near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is the most famous of all jallikattus drawing comparisons with Pamplona in Spain.Unlike in bull fighting, the animal is not killed in jallikattu. But the bull, beaten and battered into submission, often ends up maimed. The death toll of bull tamers, however, is at least four or five every year.

SEE THESE PHOTOS OF JALLIKATTU.

SEE THIS VIDEO WHICH GIVES A COMMENTARY ON JALLIKATTU.

SEE THE FEROCITY OF BULL AND FEEL THE RISK.

It has been reported that close to two hundred people have been gored to death in last ten years. Is it not irony that it is the same Karunanidhi’s government in Tamil Nadu who disregards the sentiments of million of Indian on RAMA SETU issue ,now talks of feeling of people to plead for lifting the ban on a 400 years old bull-taming sport?

But all credit goes to the Supreme Court of India which refused to lift the ban on this 400 years old tradition stating that “Men were not as civilized 400 years back as they are today. We can not allow such barbaric acts in the name of tradition.”

Sure, tradition must and should be disregarded if it does not respect the value of human life. Have the pro-traditionalists ever thought of those who lost their lives in so called act of bravery? Do you call it bravery?! Not at all.

A PILGRIMAGE--------------

Last month I had been in a pilgrimage to Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala. This was my second visit to that famous temple after a gap of 24 years. It is a considerable time gap indeed, particularly when I had spent good amount of time in South India. Ok, it was all God’s will. You may call it a “lay back” attitude of a typical Hindu who leaves everything to God’s will though the reality is lack of effort or call it “we shall see later” attitude.

But this pilgrimage for me was memorable one as I made the last part of journey from Tirupati to Tirumala by foot. The foot way is 11 Kilometers in distance. It takes roughly between 3 to 4 hours to reach Tirumala by this way. To start the journey, pilgrims have to get to Alipiri toll gate in Tirupati, where the steps to the Tirumala begin. Alipiri is a suburb at the foot of the hills and the starting location of an 11 k.m. hill climbing route. Alipiri route is the most common route and used by pilgrims on most occasions. The first hill consists of 2500 steps and is the most difficult to climb. After the first hill, it is crossing the valleys till we hit the Mokala Parvatam (Kneecap Hill) which consists of another 600 steps. Out of total distance of 11 k.m., a distance of 9 k.m. comprises of approximately 3500 steps.

I covered this distance exactly in three hours, started at early morning 5 AM and reached at 8 AM sharp. Of course, I have to help myself with one glass of lemon and sugar water, two cups of coffee, one bar of chocolate, nearly 150 gram of Pongol (soft rice prepared with dal and ghee) and several glasses of plain water.

For my Non-Indian friends, let me tell something about the temple and the Deity.

LORD VENKATESHWARA.

Sri Varaha purana (Hindu scripture) describes the incarnation and significance of the Hindu Deity Sri Venkateshwara Swami, also known as Balaji. Lord Vishnu, the second God of the Hindu Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar), is said to have reincarnated as Venkateshwara Balaji at the request of the sage Narada. Bhoodevi and Shridevi are the two consorts of Balaji. Bhoodevi represents Mother Earth and Shridevi is the Goddess of beauty. The different attributes of the majestic and superbly executed idol of Lord Balaji symbolize the nature and manifestations of the Lord of the World. The ornamentation features and expressions of the Idol carry immense significance and are regarded as objects fit for meditation.The Lord's image has four arms, signifying the four stages that may be found in every form of development of life. It also represents dominion over four directions of space and thus the omnipotence of the Lord. The upper right arm holds Sudarsana Chakra (discus) and right arm holds Pancha-Janya (Conch). The lower right hand is in Varada hasta (boon giving) pose and lower left hand is in Katyavalambita pose, turned inwards.

IMAGE OF LORD VENKATESHWARA.

The temple is located atop Seshachala Hills often called as “YAEDU KENDALU” (Seven Hills). It is in the town of TIRUPATI, in Southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the richest Hindu temple and most visited religious centre in the world followed by VATICAN.

FRONT VIEW OF TEMPLE (COURTESY WIKIPEDIA)

Now let me take all of you along with me in my journey by foot.

A VIEW FROM DISTANCE.

A VIEW OF TIRUPATI TOWN IN THE EARLY MORNING.

A MORNING VIEW OF THE VALLEY.

THE COVERED PATHWAY

ROCK VIEW.

LORD HANUMAN ON THE WAY.

WATER FALLS ON THE WAY.

WIND MILLS

STONE ABOVE STONE(MAY BE A RELIGIOUS BELIEF)

BEGINNING OF LAST 600 STEPS.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?