sudoku without a pen

While coming in the train, the person in front of me was reading a newspaper. The last sheet facing me had sudoku. I started filling the squares .. mentally :-) Guess I need to increase my sudoku speed so that I can complete it before the person turns the page.

This seems to indicate my sudoku addiction is on the raise. The next one is still more interesting.

I stayed in a hotel and got a complimentary newspaper in the morning. Nothing more cruel than leaving a sudoku puzzle to a sudoku addict, who doesn't have a pen!! I didn't want to leave the room as some may raise objection for nudity in the corridor.

I turned my creativity switch. Went around the room to find something which can mark in the paper. I got the tv remote and tried to create impression of those numbers in the paper. Nope, that didn't work; they should make better remote buttons.

Then I was going through my wife's suitcase. Seriously I opened to look for a pen. Found her beauty enhancement/replacement kit. While digging thru it, got the cute little lipstick. At last got what I wanted. It was writing in an amazing manner. Necessity is the mother of invention.

This puzzle is the sexiest puzzle I had solved.

Murphy kicks in again

In my last post, I mentioned that I couldn't test the ups usage as power cut was not seen after installing it. Today there was a total power shutdown and I couldn't test the ups as usual. I thought of finding a internet cafe where I can work with my laptop. Murphy came in here. I couldn't find a cafe even riding for 20 mins. Spotted one in the other part of the city. Luckily this cafe had power and he allowed me to use the laptop with his network.

Let me get a generator and see what Murphy is up to.

Murphy's law on electricity

Last week there were many power shutdown. It was difficult to work and more important to play games. So, got a ups as a backup power.

After setting the ups, did not get a power failure so far. Didn't even test the functioning of ups!

wireless keyboard

May be I am in the pre-historic world and got this gadget just now. I bought this on a need basis; earlier I made the laptop usage easier by accessing it through a desktop.

Now that I am using only the laptop, I felt the need for a keyboard. Today I got it and getting the benefit. Lots of comfort compared to the laptop keyboard, mouse. Wish I got this earlier.

The new place

Settling in another city takes lots of effort. To get things done and almost at the same time is stressful. As basic necessesities are brought into the house, now I am able to relax and enjoy. This change is good.

Something interesting about the people here. Observed this with many customer service people, not sure if it is something generic to the city. These people dont know how to refuse something. Whatever demand you place, they will accept the work and timeline. Later they find it difficult to get it done. Also, they are surprised when I followup with them on time.

Being from the metro, I used to negotiate the timeline with the service people and come to a reasonable time and load. Here I need to understand the protocol of request/work.

Semi-farewell

Today friends took me to a restaurant. As I am leaving the city and going to work from remote, they were giving a remembrance farewell. Thou the food and service was not good in the hotel, still I enjoyed being there because it was something for me. Quite nice moments to be with them and talking to them. Will be missing their company.

To think about it, these blog postings started due to their company and conversation, as the name of the blog reflects. Let me dedicate today's blog to their friendship.

Thank you guys!! for pumping up my happiness level when I was in the worst part of my life. Thanks for all the support and guidance you folks gave with your knowledge or without knowing. Thanks for everything.

The Move

Last week I shifted my belongings to another city. Quite hectic. Had fever, headache. Then a night travel in a truck. Luckily had a break in my in-law's house. After the break, had some more travel in the day time. Since we were travelling towards south west in the morning, the sun didn't bother us.

My wife choose this house for rent. Lovely house. Quite spacious and well planned. Thou the garden space is not very wide, it had enough plants and trees to cool the environment.

With complete rest, I came back to normal.

Started doing required stuff like advance payment, gas connections etc. Network connection seems to be troublesome, hopefully we will get one in three days.

A different life style compared to the busy metro. Change is good.

Girls, girls and girls everywhere

This posting is continuation of the title Human Fantasies.


Olden
I had read about fantasy stories in my childhood about a youth from a village, who is driven away from the family. He travels far and wide, just to meet girls of different place, different status and all with unmatching beauty. One common thing among the wild girl in the jungle, merchant's daughter and even the queen is that they all obsessively fall in love once they see him and in some cases when they hear about him.

Modern
Scientist have invented babe attracting magnet. Powdered form of this magnet is an important ingrediant in utilities like body spray, home theatre system, bike, shaving set, underwear etc. Good news is that this magnet powder is used in all gadgets used by man. Not so good news is that it is quite costly (understandable). Being a tight fist with respect to money, I have never tried any of these products which use the powder. However, I am sure that they work; if else how are these companies making such a profit so that they can advertise in every tv showtime and everywhere in the city? Anyway, I am waiting for them to announce a free trial or a heavily discounted sale. Once they do, I am planning to stock my homeful with these products. Already I had prepared a list of girls on the way to my office and in the office against whom I need to use. Yeah, I will be going to the malls on saturday evening.

A normal person might wonder what to do after attracting so many girls in the city and doubt his potential. Worry no more. The Science is here again for our rescue. Viagra!!

Ok fine, the scientist have invented this essential vitality. Will it be readily available to all? Ah! what are social service organizations for? There are set of teams pledged to put the tablet in each and every person around the world. They even squeeze them through email. None can miss these tablets.


The beauty is also important.

Who is the fastest?

This posting is continuation of the title Human Fantasies.


Olden
Passion for transportation is an obsession, mainly with the guys. Cart race, rowing boat race, horse riding, buying the best horse, building beautiful chariot, were few manner in which ancient people spent their time. They valued and cared a lot for these.


Modern
The thumb rule for picking toys when we visit families with kids: barbie for girl child, car for the boy. This works well in most of the cases. Few parents dont like this idea as they may not like to bring in such discrimination. However, I feel it is something in born - ie the preference of barbie or car. Anyway, obsession is quite evident with the youngsters and adults when they talk about their bike or car. Thou our road and traffic restrict the speed to 20 kmph, we still flash our money to get the bike which can reach 120 kmph in 10 secs.

The only non-living being I own which raises to a quasi-living being is my bike. At times I pat it if I drive too long or if I am late than promised time.

You may rush for girls.

How to cut a cake

Read this book recently. Amazing to know how mathematician sees the world. For most of the problems around, we can explain in a scientific way. For eg, the book talks about tangled phone cards. The reasoning behind tangling cords are interesting.

There are many interesting views to learn. There is a chapter on security, that is - how to authenticate oneself without revealing much to the party which is questioning. As the techno-systems becomes complex and social structures adapt to technology, such issues will be popping up. A correct balance between security measures and personal space ought to be achieved.

As the book title goes, there are two chapters devoted to sharing cake among n number of competitors. The solutions suggested are practical and would satisfy all the participants. It is relevant at global scale as water sharing bloodshed is just around the corner.

Author, Ian Stewart, had written advanced mathematical concept with layman-istic simplicity and with a lighter vein. Happy reading.

Panguni Pongal

My native town is Virudhunagar in Tamilnadu. Last month the town celebrated the festival 'Panguni Pongal'. Panguni is the last month of Tamil calendar. This festival is conducted to express gratitude to the town's main deity, Mariamman. Mariamman translates to Goddess of Rain. (btw, adjacent to this temple, there is a bigger temple for Veyiluganthamman, Goddess of sunlight).

During the three day festival, people carry fire pots (see pics) from home and deposit in a big furnace available in the temple. It is very exciting to watch so many people carrying such pots. The drum beat, blown pipe music, crackers etc add vibe to these processions.

Last day is really interesting as the majestic temple car is pulled around the town.

Lot of people gathering at the same place itself is a good experience to go through.

Insurance game

Last week my wife went through a minor surgery. Prior to that, we asked the hospital to apply for expense claims from the insurance company of our membership. Hospital requested for 25k. Insurance company approved 12k for the particular surgery.

The hospital refused to use that claim as that would be setting a sample for future claims. Hence they suggested us to go for cash payment. (For cash payment they charge 10k). We had to go for that option due to lack of time to hunt another hospital.

Wondering if there was an alternate way to handle this situation.

Different lunch

We all visited RS at his house. He is doing fine. VY ordered food from Nandini and we all had a good time around the table. Also, munched some snacks before the arraival of food, as it took sometime.

RS narrated his tale about the accident. Good thing is the fracture is minor and RS will be back into office in two weeks.

Get well soon, RS.

Dream comes true

Couple of months back MsAD had a strange dream. She saw RS met with an accident and placed in ICU. Immediately after waking up, she wanted to tell RS in the middle of the night. Later she shared the dream with us and we had a good laughing at it.

Now the dream turned out to be true!! RS bike was hit by an auto and RS has a fracture in his collar bone. Hope it is a minor problem and he will be back to normal soon.

Beware of MsAD and her dreams.

Others started sharing their dream experiences. MS gets dreams based on tv shows. VY has dreams on a regular basis. He feels dreamless sleep as disturbing.

How does hiv spread?

There was an interesting conversation about hiv stuff. Many questions about the virus where raised. How does the virus transmit? If malaria can spread through musquito, why cant hiv? How come people affect by hiv do not show any symtom for years?

Seems like in recent years doctors are able to eradicate hiv from the womb. Amazing.

Dead lizard

Morning I found a lizard dead in my bathroom. Since that lizard was small and young, it still lingers in my mind. What could be the cause of the death? Do they have heart attack or stroke? Did it see some frightening enemy? Could it be a suicide? If so, what could be the reason?

May be it couldn't tolerate the smell of the bathroom. I had to clear it off before it starts smelling the room.

Same story

Today I went with my wife to USKB restaurant. A couple sat next to our table. Happen to snoop their heated argument.

Guy to his gf: "These days you have increased ur quarrelling frequency. You are fighting a lot. I feel better if u shout at me. Instead you are stop talking and that is paining more. We wasted yesterday like that."

hmm .. same story everywhere.

Doctor's job

RN, VY, my wife and myself went to Mast Kalandhar restarant today. Later my friend, NN, joined us. The ambiance was good and food ok.

As my wife completed her medical studies recently, discussion went towards medicine, practices and ethics etc.

Quite interesting discussion.

house renting criteria

My wife and myself will be looking for a rental house in few weeks, we started discussing the type of house we want. As my friend, LN, is an expert in house hunt, we sought his help. LN was kind enough to send us the list of items to check while finding house.

Placing the criteria here for netizen to benefit.



Visit the house more than once before deciding if you wanna move to the house. Talk to the neighbours casually.

External Factors

1. Close to work place or in a area from where there is good connectivity, transportation
2. House shd be located in a good environment (surroundings) Shd be close to the market, shops but not right in between them
3. No water problem and water logging in the area
4. Underground drainage preferred
5. Security - it will be good if there are street lights and one such is just before the house.
6. Good if the house has trees (esp. neem tree)

Internal Factors

1. Type of ceiling - Bombay ceiling is easy to maintain
2. Flooring of the house - avoid marble if you have elders @ home.
3. Elevation of house from road - slight elevation will be good
4. Direction of house facing - good if the house is North or East facing
5. Floor in which house is present - Ground floor, 1st floor - anything is ok if only young people are gonna reside in the house.
6. Cross Ventilation
7. ventilation in kitchen and bath
8. Sun light (at least in the morning)
9. Hall shd be big enuf to place TV, Sofa set
10. It will be good if the house has a veranda (for keeping shoes and other stuff)
11. Bedroom shd be big enuf to have a 6-6(ft) cot. And it shd have extra space for moving around.
12. Kitchen shd be big enuf to keep utensils, grinder,mixie,coffee maker,micro wave. Kitchen slab, sink shd be at correct height and shd be big enuf to dump utensils. If you have gas cylinder there shd be space to keep it.
13. Bathroom, latrine shd have ventilation and shd be spacious You shd get water in bathroom, latrine (24hrs)
14. Bathroom shd be big enuf to wash clothes otherwise there shd be separate space to wash clothes.
15. Nice if there is both Indian and western latrine. One should be common. It will be good to have the latrine inside the house and away from living space.
16. Need to have space for Washing machine near bathroom to drain water
17. Nice to have balcony. Washing machine and other stuff can be kept there. (check security if you have a balcony)
18. Security - Better if the house has got grill doors.
19. It will be good if the house has a store room
20. Nice if the house has closed shelves
21. Internal electric wiring
22. Inbuilt fuse system to prevent overloading, proper earthing
23. Provision to keep bero, refrigerator, dining table, computer, television
24. will be good if the hose has closed lofts
25. There shd be enuf points in the house to connect electronic/ electric devices.
26. Ceiling height of Bathroom needs to be high enuf to accommodate geyser
27. Good to have mirror + wash basin
28. wash basin close to dinning hall
29. Separate meter for our part of the house. Nice to have a separate meter for water consumption
30. Space for hanging clothes ( balcony where you get sunlight will be good otherwise there shd be a terrace or other space)
31. Shd have provision to hang clothes inside the house (in rainy days you can't hang clothes outside)
32. Maintenance charges
33. Sheltered Two/ Four wheeler parking preferable
34. Ask about painting the house
35. Other furniture's, fixtures, fittings(fan, light)
36. Nice to have separate pooja, study/dining room
37. 24hrs Water supply ( Overhead tank, Corporation water, Well, Bore well )
38. You shd have access to the motor switch
39. Some houses will have cracks in the ceiling. This will give you a tough time in rainy days.
40. Facility to fit AC.
    

Happy hunting.

Longevity

This posting is continuation of the title Human Fantasies.

Olden
As many wanted to live longer, younger and healthier, quack doctors sprout all around the world. Wealthy people were willing pay heft money for elixir. Looks like many had died by consuming toxic medicines.

Modern
Knowledge about disease and medical techniques had helped man to postpone death. The average lifespan had increased drastically. Further improvement might take human to greater age and living.

The next stop-over is at driving freaks.