Poetic Thoughts # 3 - What is Life But...

"A 'Poetic Thought', a little bit scrambled, describing the loop of life."

What is life?

But twists and turns,

Looping meanders,

Nowhere to run :(

We start this game,

Having no clue of the future,

It is as if we're born

36 weeks premature.

But yeah! We start out,

Our primitive years,

As if thick fog - are spent in this haze.

Not knowing about this life-like maze.

And once we start walking,

Life tops up a third dimension,

We are the conquistadors

Of this new nation.

We resume our journey,

The dozen maddening years in school,

They say this is Childhood,

To me, its just Cool!

A looping meander, we here confront,

For new careers we must hunt,

A time spent in dependence,

Blooms into a need to brew our own existence.

Ah! Time flies by, responsibilities increase,

We have no time to even blurt out 'Freeze!

As we go up the office ranks

And fill our hard-earned money into banks.

And when you become a Sexagenarian,

Retirement does beckon.

You have your own holiday home

And exotic places you can roam.

Whatever comes, has to go,

It is with this fear

That one steers clear,

Of the sorrows that life offers.

But death haunts us,

With a smiling face.

And then the day dawns,

When you reach Third Base.

Strike Out!

I told ya Life was a loop, a different game.

Wherein you start with nothing,

And come back to 'Start' with nothing.

What is life?

But twists and turns,

Looping meanders,

Nowhere to run :(

What is this?

Nothing but a Poetic Thought.

Go out there, live your Life,

Or live it not!

Limca Quiz 2011 Questions: Goa Edition

The Limca Quiz is an annual quizzing event held for High School students (8th to 12th). This year, sponsored by Coca-Cola and organised by Derek O Brien and Associates, it will be conducted in 80 cities, involving 3500 schools and about 10000 teams. The three stage event will culminate in the national stage which will be conducted by Derek O Brien Himself.

I have compiled the questions of the Goa Edition (Prelims and Finals) in a PDF document which is uploaded to Google Docs. It can be viewed and downloaded below: (Viewing it in full screen will be better)

Limca Quiz 2011 Questions - Goa Edition

Thanks.

Wired Differently: Quizbot # 4

Quizbot is a weekly quiz initiated by yours truly in an attempt to reach far out in everyone's quest for Curiosity. Besides, Quizzing is one of my hobbies and thanks to SEQC, now one of my passions.

Quizbot # 3 saw a relatively weaker response, but nevertheless, here's the fourth set. I missed posting this yesterday because of a tight string of events, so here goes:

Set # 4

1. Connect the three images below to a song by an entertainer. Also name the entertainer.

2. One of the holy abodes of God Vishnu, this temple is currently in the news. Name it.

3. Also in the news, how the name of this district came about is as follows. The first element of this word contains this letter (see image, the letter is written in upper and lower case) of the Old English Alphabet. The second part means 'hill' in Old English. Name Please.

4. Today (4th July) is the Independence Day in America. But, on this day, about a 1000 years earlier, Chinese astronomers spotted an 'unseen star', a 'second sun' so to say. This today is known to be a supernova that created what spectacular astronomical treat?

5. The sitter (as usual). Name this aircraft (pictured below), the name of this aircraft refers to any type of agreement on a matter.

As usual, Please post your answers in the comments section below.

Quizbot # 3 Answers and Scores:

This time we had 8 responses, the answers and scores below:

1. He is, my friends, Erno Rubik, the creator of the Rubik's Cube! I've accepted 'Rubik's Cube' as a valid answer. (5/8 got it correct)

2. The fancy suit is the Zoot Suit. (5/8 got it correct)

3. The rock band is Backstreet Boys. (5/8 got it correct)

4. He is also another Charles, Charles Lyell. (6/8 got it correct)

5. The sitter, BASE jumping, expanded is Buildings, Antenna, Span and Earth. (As expected, 8/8 got it correct)

And now for the Scores:

1. Mangesh Sonawane - 4 (Rock On!)

2. Thiru - 2

3. Somewhere over the Earth/what a beautiful World - 4 (Rock On!)

4. Dhruv Sharma - 5 (That's it, my friend!)

5. Raghav - 5 (That's it, my friend!)

6. Kapinjal - 4 (Rock On!)

7. Varun - 3

8. Anonymous - 3

Link to the previous Set: Quizbot Set # 3

Thanks for the response, and Keep Quizzing!

Later!

Rube Goldberg Machines

In the Summer Holidays, I, along with my Friend, planned to make a simple Rube Goldberg Machine, which sounded exciting! This article is the first in a series of three.

Like doing this the 'hard' way just to extract some FUN outta' borin' stuff? Well, A Rube Goldberg Machine is what you need to do just the same.

Don't go by the name (Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist, btw)... Rube Goldberg Machines are NOT complicated at all. You might have also 'built' a RG Machine out of your own, without even realising it.

Well, that's because a RG Machine is meant to do an extremely simple job, in an overtly-complicated manner. It does this via Chain Reactions, incorporating household, easy-to-find stuff! For example, there can be a Rube Goldberg as big as a room to achieve something as meager as Pricking a Balloon or Switching on your Nintendo DS!

Before moving on, and in case you are confused, I'll show you Rube Goldberg Machines made by our childhood heroes, the cartoon characters. Mr. Bean, Wil E Coyote & Road Runner and Scooby Doo have featured RG Machines before!

Here, an Alarm Clock rings, triggering a mechanism which shoots a burst of hot water in the pipe, which finally reaches Mr. Bean's legs, waking him up! Well, he even could've let the Alarm Clock ring, instead he decided to complicate things!

Here, in another failed attempt to kill Road Runner, Wil E Coyote uses an elaborate RG Machine, which, OBVIOUSLY fails.

In media, the band OK Go's promotional music video for This Too Shall Pass also features a two-story Rube Goldberg.

This one's JUST SIMPLY AWESOME!

Why something complicated as RG Machines were introduced in the first place has to do with the 'Machine Age', which came at the turn of the 21st century. Electricity, Running Water, Machines interested people, and new mechanical devices used for simplifying life were flooding Patent Offices. And then a cartoonist comes along, with cartoons depicting complex machines performing simple tasks, and the hobby of making RG Machines is born! Rube Goldberg's cartoons are filled with ingenious complicated devices. The below Image depicts a 'Moth Killer' with steps labelled from A to T!

Besides this, many schools worldwide (NOT IN INDIA) assign students Rube Goldberg machines as science projects, because they wonderfully explain simple physical concepts, and use simple machines like Levers, Inclined Planes and Pulleys.

1987 saw Rube Goldberg contests, which require a team construct a RG Machine from materials given to them on the spot!

My interest towards Rube Goldberg Machines came about one boring day in the holidays, when I Googled for 'Chain Reaction' and was directed to the This Too Shall Pass video! After browsing through more videos, I decided to make one myself, along with my friend Mangesh. This was one article in a series of three, with the next one featuring out RG Machine!

Below are some of my favourite 'Wacky', 'Original' cartoons made by Rube Goldberg himself showing more RG stuff! XD! Don't Worry about the image size, I purposely made then so you could enjoy the cartoon strip!

1. A Mousetrap

2. World's Fair Gadgets

3. Turn Off the Lights

4. Cut Your Own Hair

5. A Simple Alarm Clock

6. A Lift For Hitch - Hikers!

More at this webpage.

Later!

Wired Differently: Quizbot # 3

Quizbot is a weekly quiz initiated by yours truly in an attempt to reach far out in everyone's quest for Curiosity. Besides, Quizzing is one of my hobbies and thanks to SEQC, now one of my passions.

Quizbot # 2 was more of a success than Quizbot # 1. Here, we continue with the Quizzing series with Quizbot # 3.

Set # 3

1. Space always amused this Inventor, who is also an architect. He is best known for amusing millions of people with his invention. Identify him.

2. Name this type if clothing, which also shares its name with an HTC cell phone. You would also connect this with a series of riots in the WW 2 era. Name.

3. Name this band, which in 2000, released an album which contained two colours in its title.

4. Name this geologist, who in his milestone book popularized the concept of dynamic forces shaping the earth. His book was so popular that Charles Darwin carried a copy along with him in his voyage.

5. In the end, as usual, the sitter. What does the word 'BASE' stand for in BASE Jumping?

Please post your answers in the comments section below.

Quizbot # 2 Answers and Scores:

The Second Set of Quizbot saw 14 responses, out of which 13 are accepted as answers. The Answes below:

1. Many got this one. It is Atari. (11/13 got it correct)

2. The great man is Max Planck, best known for his introduction of the 'Quantum.' (7/13 got it correct)

3. The city is none other than Casablanca! (6/13 got it correct)

4. Yes, the symbol is Radura. I've accepted a few responses where the purpose is mentioned. (11/13 got it correct)

5. Wanna be a Cyborg? (10/13 got it correct)

And now for the Scores:

1. Mangesh Sonawane - 5 (That's it, my friend!)

2. Aditthya - 4 (Great!)

3. Swapnil - 4 (Awsum!)

4. Shreehari - 4 (Great!)

5. Thiru - 3

6. Satya - 2

7. Dhruv Sharma - 2

8. Rajat Joshi - 1

9. Raghav - 4 (Rock On!)

10. Kapinjal - 5 (Waytago!)

11. PHS Quizzing Log (Akash) - 5 (Waytago!)

12. Vinayak - 4 (Awsum!)

13. Jeevan - 3

Link to the previous Set: Quizbot Set # 2

Thanks for the response, and Keep Quizzing!

Later!

Incredible India - This Happens Only in India

"This Happens Only In India"

A country of a billion, no wonder we say, "Incredible India." Well, the only distinction we don't make is that in what sense we take this phrase. On one hand, there is the beauty of the picturesque land, there are the national treasures of India and also the cultural diversity.

Well, on the 'funny-side-up', due to the enormous diversity of people, we get to see the 'This Happens Only In India' side of India. The Times of India has captured this funny side with campaigns like 'A Day In The Life of India' and 'Sign of the Times.' On that note, and with the same objective, here are a score of those 'viral' pics that showcase the funnier side of India:

1. Let's go To School!

With schools starting new sessions, this is a good pic to start on.

2. Currency 'Collection'

I DO NOT mean any offence to our National Hero.

3. Babies, this is for You! (Or is it?)

Don't go behind this truck!

4. The InFINITE Staircase

I would NOT want the architect of this 'Marvel' to design my house. Do I need to say "Mind Your Head?"

5. The 'Gyani' Babe

If this goes on, India will soon race South Korea in terms of Mobile Phones per person!

6. Just Do It

The title says it all! :P

7. Where there is NO Water, there's... Coca Cola!

Can someone teach this Coke guys Advertising??? In such a place where there's no water to drink, they expect people to drink Coke? Incredible India!

8. Lullaby...

Have a Sound sleep.... :D. Shush! Don't diturb 'em by Laughing! Hahaha!

9. To Drive, Or Not To Drive?

Don't go there, fellas!

10. No Advocate to Advocate

Read this as: Vakil No One. Vakil translates to Advocate.

11. Idly Outsourced

Yeech! I no eating Italy with Sambar! For all those non-Indian, Idly is a popular Indian dish, here it is misspelled as Italy.

12. Pass it on, Mate!

Passing the Parcel, Train Style!

13. Be Trendy

A Trendy Bhelwala (Bhel is a popular fast food), but does he know his Facebook?

14. Mighty Expectations...

Wow! Read it double time!

15. Somebody Call That Guy!

and Find out what kind of institute he's operating!!! xD

16. The Wormhole Dustbin

Empty your wHOLE garbage here... :P. Do Remember, what goes in this, comes out the other end!

17. What To Do, What NOT To Do!

The Government must be crazy!

18. A Jack in the Box

That there, seems to be a GOLD MINE! :P

19. Child Bear

Does he mean, 'Chilled Beer?' Whatever, you are NOT gonna get that in India! :D

20. The Truth at Last

The Manager must be a righteous person! Yes, Truth Always Wins!

That's all from Incredible India, for now. As Above, So Below!

PS: If you would like a Sequel to this post, With 20 more signs, Please do comment so below.

Later!

Poetic Thoughts # 2 - Science Reigns Supreme

The 'Poetic Thought' below describes a common, layman making friends with a sophisticated 'Theoretical Physicist'. The Layman first views science as something incomprehensible (Which, I'm sure, we all have done!) and weird. He describes his friendship with the Physicist and then hints about something big. Then comes the great man's big discovery, a Theory of Everything (something Einstein had been working on). Only then does the Layman understand what science means to the world, and makes a call. Read on!

Glad you came to

Hear a Story

Of somebody

Neg-Lec-Ted.

This great man

Whom I met in my Garden

Every-Day.

He used Scientific jargon,

Used to blabber sumthin' 'bout Argon,

I didn't care.

In the neighborhood he'd come to stay,

As I watched him through my window everyday.

Then one day he called me in,

I was greeted by the smell of paper within.

His house was a laboratory,

Papers, Books a lot of Mystery.

He told me he had no body,

He was so de-jec-ted.

Then I asked him his objective,

But his answer was not definitive.

A theoretician, he called himself,

Elegantly dressed from top to bottom

Often inquired, "Do people care whats inside an Atom?"

He said he worked,

He put his mind.

All for the benefit of Mankind.

"All for Science" was his motto,

But within himself he wondered,

How far can this all go.

He was working on something,

Something big,

He always protected,

He admitted, he was always,

Neg-Lec-Ted.

But his thoughts reflected,

The perfect man he was.

He often said amalgamation,

Was the only solution

He was working on TOE (A theory of Everything)

Incorporating Relativity and String Theory

He said, that was the Key

To understanding the physical world.

Unification, he said, is my prime motivation,

And reaching it is jubilation.

But in the end he did reach there,

To me this was all obscure, I didn't care.

Then one day - Front Page Headlines

The man was there,

This time, Yes, I did care.

By evening he was everywhere,

TV, Papers and the internet was taken by rage.

Only then did I comprehend,

The enormity of his work,

What had been an obscurity,

Took better of my curiosity.

If his work meant,

Faster Computers, Cell Phones and Better Technology.

Then it means a lot to the community.

What was every scientist's dream,

The 'icing' on the Cream,

Was realised that day.

Till we Earthlings wait for that moment,

Let Science reign supreme.

Let Science reign supreme.

(Currently, physicists are working on a 'Theory of Everything'. Do remember that as the work done in Quantum Theory and Relativity gave us spinoffs like the Laser, TVs, Cell Phones, Computers and in modern sense, Technology. Similar spinoffs are likely if a TOE is formulated)