Five Secrets

My next post is an excerpt found in the sacred space column (newspaper article) and was really influenced by it. This is titled 'Looking Back' by John B Izzo.

A diverse group of senior citizens offered insights that came down to these five points:
1.Be true to yourself by living with intention. Know your heart's desire and seek it.
2.Live with no regrets. Regrets are feared more than death. So mend fences, make peace. Take chances, pursue those dreams, and accept failure as well. Rather than be crushed by failure, learn from it.
3.Become Love. Love is not an emotion but a choice; a way of being that involves seeing ourselves and others with kindness and compassion. That love creates the opportunities to follow your bliss, heal wounds in yourself and others, and to find peace despite challenges and hardships.
4.Live in the moment.Right here,right.
5.Give more than you take. Find yourself and then lose yourself.Once your identify your heart's desire and live your life pursuing it, the chance of accumulating any regrets is reduced.
Leave the campsite better than you found it, as one wise elder put it.

Things are easier said than done.Somewhat similar to this earlier post.

Big Crisis?

Read this article today by Rahul Bose regarding the Copenhagen meeting. I think the whole thing about climate change is overhyped to an extent mainly caused by the media. The overall prediction cannot be relied upon just like whether forecast but the best thing is the future comes one day at a time and some preventive measures are a great help. Simple things like walking, using public transport, unplugging, switching off the lights when not required, minimal use of ACs, from everyone are crucial.

Although the climate is getting hotter due to the greenhouse effect, there is still hope. Also read the news regarding bacteria converting CO2 to liquid fuel by genetic engineering (click here) but such kind of technology is hard to commercialize.

I think much more important is the minimal energy resources available for the evergrowing demands of the human population. Petrol, Coal, Gas are continuously driving the economy since the whole world is dependent on them. Biofuels and Bioethanol are being developed and tried to be included in the commercial industry through laws in US primarily( click here) but even Brazil has such laws.

The Copenhagen summit is a first step to getting the priorities right for all the countries. But why should developing countries sacrifice their development so that the developed countries continue with the emission so as to say. This seems like a backdoor solution which has a high chance of failing.

Once the basic amenities(water, food,electricity) of all the people are fulfilled and recycling technologies focused on things will fall into place. Like using less paper helps saving trees in a way;the various recycling technologies will help minimize the inputs required.Also, development of renewable energy resources should be the most important topic.

Adaptation and finding solutions starts with certain habits, discipline, focused attention at all times rather than worrying about what would happen and is happening.

24th December 2009: Read a news story about Solar cells that turn clothes in battery chargers( click here) This is not the first one regarding solar cells, dont know why there is no progress to employ such technologies in a large scale. If any of the world leaders were serious enough, they would try to implement such technology in daily activities of the masses. Energy conversation would be enormous, at least the resources would be spared for some time.

23rd February 2010: Another news story about fuel cells in the papers (click here and here)

Role Models

There have been many role models for me to look up to, so decided to list a few of them, randomly. This post might be considered opposite of this but there is a subtle difference since there is no criticism or judgment just facts. Needless to say, friends and family are excluded when i am posting this becoz i don't want to judge them n that most of them are role models some time or other for me. Also, i have not met all of the legends/icons mentioned.

• Sachin Tendulkar
• Lance Armstrong-Great determination to beat cancer and win the tour de france 7 times (although later on - in 2013 - confessed to taking banned substances EPO and was stripped off the title).
• Micheal Jordan- Champion who almost never gave up till the last second of the game.
• Steven Waugh- Has taken many blows just to be on the crease for Australia, great temperament.
• Glenn McGrath- Legend
• Jackie Chan- Amazing risk taking abilities
• Cyrus Broacha
• Barkha Dutt
• Oprah
• Greame Smith
• Courtney Walsh- Great bowler and even better batsmen (to watch). His long spells were a treat to watch.
• Ted Dansen in the serial Becker i.e. the character 'Becker'.
• Al Pacino
• Greg Blewett
• Rahul Dravid
• Ian Wright from Travel and Living.
• Wayne Brady
• Alan Alda- Great documentaries done by him on Discovery.
• Buffon
• Paolo Maldini- played football for 25 years, he's more than a legend.
• Rajdeep Sardesai
• Jose Mourinho
• Dr.Mahesh Chitnis
• Nagesh Kuknoor
• Gianluca Zambrotta
• Alessandro Costacurta
• Mahesh Gawli
• Pierluigi Collina
• Megan McCormick
• Shawn Micheals
• Kevin Smith
• Roberto Baggio

Mentioned few here, the list just goes on.

Carrom

I have been playing a lot of carrom of late(maybe even too much).Good thing is that i have improved at it (along with my friends). I used to play with Uncle, cousins, other friends earlier and used to lose my temper if any foul was committed against which would affect my further shots/game.

As for the recent past i have learned a lot about the game and how to play it fairly, cleverly.It seems the easiest of games at first...just a flick of fingers to send striker towards the coin but it is certainly much more complicated than that.Factors like speed, direction, followup have to be considered And the constant distractions/comments from the opponents when playing with friends.

Somehow it helps me control my nerves (in tense situations). It has become like a continuous exercise for me.Recently i have also realized what 'the zone' is.Only game where i occasionally do experience and play 'in the zone'.

The fun derived during playing with friends is a great bonus.Maybe i will post about something not related to sports next.

Best Football Ads

Some shots from the Best Football Ads.




Check on youtube for video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H548YEfbO-k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaioZPo-1-g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRdQlhdYPus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBN1vY9gMvU

Cartoons

Everyone remembers watching cartoons when growing up.I used to watch He-Man on DD....that was long back.Later on, on Cartoon Network i had many favourites like Swat Kats,Jetsons,Flintstones,Captain Planet,G.I.Joe,Johnny Quest,etc.

Although 'Centurions' was amazing to watch; probably the Best of all.It had a great concept.Simpsons and Futurama are really funny and i still watch Simpsons sometimes.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were also great to watch.Recently watched the movie also.

Over the years, as technology has progressed the animated versions of Cartoons have also improved.Some series are being made in 3D.(In the Johnny Quest Series- Quest World was shown in 3D and i was really amazed that time)

Making animated versions/comics of cartoons is one of the great Art forms.Imagination is the key for any person in such a profession.There should not be any constraint on what is to be considered as true...no respecting any laws of physics....no problem of sets,actors,etc. Yeah, the pen is mightier than the sword.(It can take you to places you cant imagine)

Back of a Note book

Words from the last page of a notebook:-

The Best Day-TODAY
Hardest Thing to do- TO BEGIN
The Greatest Handicap-FEAR
Easiest Thing to do- FINDING FAULTS
Most Useless Asset- PRIDE
Most Useful Asset- HUMILITY
The Greatest Mistake- GIVING UP
The Greatest Stumbling Block- EGOTISM
The Greatest Comfort- WORK WELL DONE
Most Disagreeable Person- THE COMPLAINER
Worst Bankruptcy- LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM
Meanest Feeling- REGRET AT ANOTHER'S SUCCESS
Best Gift- FORGIVENESS
The Hardest and Most Painful to accept-DEFEAT
The greatest knowledge- EXPERIENCE
The Greatest Thing- LOVE
The Greatest Success in the World- PEACE OF MIND

College Trip

Any Trip during College time is always special....it was probably one of the most important weeks for me.We went to Chandigarh, Delhi (12th Feb 06-21st Feb 06) for the industrial visit.
(Ashish dekh post kiya main trip ka.....)I had decided that i wasnt going to post about this but changed my mind.Here it goes: although some things cant be explained just experienced.
Teachers that were accompanying us;Bhagwat Sir(Dr.Mohan Bhagwat),(Dr.Prashant Khadke) Khadke Sir,Dr.Geetanjali,Sunita Singh Madam and Dean with staff members.

12th Feb was a Sunday...actually i had given my GATE exam in the morning in Thane, and then left for Mumbai Central in the evening.Train was scheduled to leave on 9.30; Geetanjali Madam spilt the Dombivali Group from our batch so that Boys could sit on both ends of the allotted seats(sleeper class).Harshad wasnt happy,i wasnt lucky either i got a seat beside the teachers alongwith Raghu i think .(Bags were checked but somehow they managed to get the supplies through.) Eventually i did sleep for 3-4 hours.
Next day was spent in the train, Krish was playing his guitar and trying to show the various nodes.Meanwhile , a JAANATI group was being formed.Its one of those unexplainable thing that happens in the spur of the moment that carried on through out the trip; was more than relieved not to be a part of it.Spent most of day reading, listening to the Discman,Walkman.

Me,Krish,Raghuraj

Sarthak,Ashish

Neha,Mona,Shounak,Ashish,Adnan,Monish,Krish.

The pic was taken in the evening time when the train was on a long halt, Krish was playing/practicing on the guitar.Monish, Adnan & Krish were looking after the serving of the meals,i helped them in evening time.We reached Ambala Cantt around 1.00 or so in the morning.
Just after entering the Bus Nikhil started having a puff on d last seat, (and i thought to myself whoa what a start), it was a near miss Khadke Sir had just entered the bus smelling something.
One of the best jokes of the trip :-Monalisa: after entering the bus- "Yogesh why dont you go and sit behind" Yogesh replied : "This is not some lecture in college,that you have to sit on the front row"(in Marathi) Everyone was exhausted by the train journey and that probably sparked some life, lightened the mood.

Most of the Gang.

One of my fav pic, taken when they halted the bus for permit, paper work near Chandigarh.(Prashant Kadke sir-2nd from right) Facilities in Chandigrah were almost 5 star,my roomates were Paresh,Yogesh,Vishal.We visited IMTECH in the morning, got a good introduction in Fermentors, Membrane Filtration, Spray Drier,Lyophilization,Bioinformatics,Overall working of the Institute.Got to see pilot scale fermentors,animal houses....
Was exhausted in the evening so decided to spend time in bus sleeping instead of going to some Lake, came back to the hotel and watched TV some match was going on, missed bonfire; Yogesh was disappointed with me for not coming to the binfire.But i did have a good time; Amrut Vikram, Amol cracking a lot of jokes in the room. Yogesh and Paresh were not on talking terms, hence this was refreshing.Next day we visited Punjab University and visited Rock Garden before leaving Chandigarh.Rock garden was an amazing place, Dean`s photo with Khadke Sir was one of the great highlights.

Top:Nikhil,Me,Monish,Krish,Adnan
Yogesh,Rahul,Ashish.

N1

Bus Ride from Chandigarh to Delhi was the most memorable part of the trip,(two batches were allotted one bus each)Dean was not travelling in our bus so all teachers were on our bus. Geetanjali Madam suggested to start Antakshari and Khadke Sir obliged.
Everything was normal at first then Khadke sir decided to split us in two groups,in a Madam vs Sirs competition.Competitiveness got the attention of most of us;we were playing cards initially but now all of us were engaged in the singing competition.Almost everyone sang for some point of time.Raghu was forced to sing individually.Geetanjali Madam had clever tactics , she would sing two lines and ask our/other team to sing immediately. Praful,Sarthak, Ashish were singing songs which were of a loud tone on purpose.Juvin and Aditi sang the most.In the end juvin had to sing in her regional language just to save the team from losing.We had a halt for tea/coffee and after that it just fizzed out.We were entering Delhi now;i was listening to music.
(Most of the trip is hard to explain....)

In Delhi hotel,there was a huge get together in one of the rooms, everyone still remembers the joke about Monish.We visited NCPGR,JNU south campus.NCPGR was just inaugrated that time, so we were just watching the equipment in the facility, no work was going on back then.We had few seminar type lectures giving the information regarding the work to be carried out,etc.(dont really remember about NCPGR) We just hung out in JNU south campus doing nothing.Hugh campus, prestigious university, many foreign students......didnt get it when i saw people smoking near the canteen.Yogesh and Praful were carcking so many jokes during lunch.

We visited the President`s Garden, India Gate the next day(17th Feb) Had a long chat with Ashish, he had lost some money he brought from home or someone stole it.....so he wasnt feeling himself.All this time,Vishal & I were developing a good camaraderie (Vishal,sorry for the wrong pill i gave u in Delhi)

Next day we visited the IARI.It was a very informative (all round) on-site visit showing the practicalities of agricultural research.The green houses, net house were so hugh and well organized.I remember walking through atleast 10 green houses, all very well maintained.
There was an animated discussion regarding the irrigation to some section of land by using a simple tank at a certain height to develop the pressure/flow (Shantanu/ Shounak were involved in a hugh discussion)Below pic is taken from the bus giving an indication.


Next day we visited temple in Mathura, Agra - Taj Mahal.When visiting the temple in Mathura i felt a sense of peace...even though i could actually see commandos kept on patrol on the premises since its considered to be a sensitive location.There is a mosque just beside it.
Skipped going to shopping in the afternoon,spent time with Krish and Ashish at the hotel over coffee & burgar.

Return Trip: i was allotted a top tier seat on one side of the coach, the train we were returing by was faster than the earlier one so less time travelling.Did get to sleep comfortably while coming back.Tried to accumulate thoughts and absorb the activities in the days gone by.Spent most of the day in train just roaming,lying,watchin.

Krish,Praful,Yogesh,Me,Vishal

Yogesh has a fierce look in that above picture.

The trip was refreshing for me, away from the assignments,notes,lectures.I valued the time spent with my friends over the week and will remember it for as long as i can.(Amol you might not even remember this but sorry for yelling at you and getting angry)

Comments are welcome.