R A M and R A T

Restart !

2023-08-10T20:36:00.000+05:30

I'm restarting this Blog, after a hybernation of about 8 years !

Requests all to come back, read .

ONAM - Best Wishes to ALL

2015-08-25T11:30:00.003+05:30

Vishu Greetings

2015-04-15T10:10:00.003+05:30

Remedy for Diesel price hike

2013-09-02T11:55:00.000+05:30

Diesel price hike ??

Rabbies, the cool water way.

2013-03-24T10:58:00.002+05:30

Just watch, the way rabbies makes its way to you. A scene at Trivandrum Railway Station. The stray dog licks and drinks water straight from the cool water tap. And watch the video.

How safe are the drinking water sources in public places ?

New life

2012-10-18T14:48:00.002+05:30

Hi all,
I am trying to give a new life to my BlogSite. I've just modified the looks. Though primarily I'll be writing my memories and thoughts at random, I decided to present my personal particulars as well. You may not relish all those, but I thought I must make this blog more 'personal'. That's how my 'Services' too appear in this BlogSite. Kindly post a line as your comment.

Thank you all !

Replacing MS Windows

2012-01-21T12:51:00.000+05:30

Have you ever thought of replacing your MS Windows ? May be, on various reasons !
OK, but what will you replace your MS Windows with ?? May be the old DOS, or the new LINUX , or something of that sort.
But ISRO would replace their MS Windows with Aluminium Windows ! That's what a recent advt of ISRO says !!

What's the tree ?

2011-11-01T11:59:00.000+05:30

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) started in the 1850s, when brokers met under a banyan tree.
The Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) dates back to the 1830s, when brokers met under a neem tree.
The Cochin Stock Exchange (CSE) started in the 1970s, when brokers met under a mango tree.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) was set up in 1992, when brokers met under a ? tree.

Please post your answer to '?'

Arch-Idiotic OR Myopic

2011-02-14T12:30:00.002+05:30

Here are a few quotes, often used by people to explain how stupid or myopic some of the "big" people were. These are mostly related to Computers, and the pre-IBM-PC era. However, it says a lot about how even the so called leaders think. How foolish (idiotic) they are / were !

"There's no need for any individual to have a Computer in their home "
"The only legitimate use of a Computer is to play games"
"640 K ought to be enough for anybody"
"There is a world market for maybe five Computers"
"Everything that can be invented has been invented"

But it's not about those myopic, "big businesses". Even today, 'inability to understand business of their own ' or forecast is a BIG issue. It's nothing less than the title above.

Chicken thoughts

2011-01-10T13:35:00.000+05:30

This cock is caged in for display, at a chicken shop. He looks at every customer and asks : "Are you pointing at me? No....please...."

Cute APARNA and granny GRUNDIG

2010-06-22T12:57:00.003+05:30

In early 1972, I bought my first Radio, a Transistor Radio. An old one, from the junk yard ( the famous Putharikandam Maithaanam (East Fort, Trivandrum ), which was the 'guzri market' those days). It was "GRUNDIG" make, an original one. Quite heavy, it had a 9V battery pack to work. The cabinet was made of wood. It had 9 transistors ( OC1, AC128/AC127, etc.. !! ), an excellent heavy 6" speaker, an 8" ferrite road, a metallic loop antenna, and all that ...

Those days' popular brands were .. Philips, Murphy, Nelco, (all of Indian make) and ofcourse Sony and National Panasonic (all Japanese make, and available through Gulf channels or illegal sources). GRUNDIG, known for its quality and long life, was rare. That's what made me pick this junk radio. Being an electronic hobbyist, I was sure to repair it and recondition this junk. And that's what I did. Some minor manipulations/repairs and fitting a new battery pack, the radio started working. Quickfix (the one fixing everything except 'broken hearts' !) did its magic to keep the cabinet healthy.

This multiband radio (no FM !) had very good reception qualities. It could receive even the local (TVM City) Police wireless communication ( 80-90 metre band). So, I used to listen them during evenings and night. Monitoring Police wireless was thrilling that time. However, I kept that a secret. { I am always scared of the Police } . For many years I used this granny radio. At some point of time I lost track, may be due to the modern ones that came to my life.

I have here, the remains of my Grundig radio. The Loop antenna and the Ferrite rod.

And now let me show you the beautiful Aparna. She's here with a "leather-like" garment. And then without it !

Believe me, this Delhi born Radio is an excellent one. Both in looks and performance. It's not costly. Just Rs. 300/- only. I am quite happy with my Aparna.

You may wonder why I tell you all these. Equivalents (Philips, .. ) costs you over Rs. 1000/-. And it's not that nice to look at. And, performance is matching well.

The best decease

2010-06-22T12:28:00.001+05:30

We all face deceases of some kind or other, during our life. Deceases of various types and complexities. And for most of them, our medical systems are able to treat and cure, so that we are "saved". But as we grow older, medicines may become less effective. At some point of time , death wins over the doctors and medicines !

Some deceases cause us to be bed-ridden, may be for days or weeks, or even months. It becomes a horrible experience to be like that. { Personally, I can't even think of being bed-ridden, and being at the mercy of others }. This made me think of a good-better-best ratings for deceases (not bad-worse-worst ). I feel the best decease is heart attack ! It ends up one's life in a few moments. No much trouble to self and others.

Am i cruel ? Am a cynic ? I know I am not !

For a few rupees more !

2010-06-15T16:02:00.000+05:30

Look at the treasures I've been keeping !
Old issues of "Computers Today" and "Chip".

I sold them for four hundred-rupee notes !

But, my treasure of
'Science Today'
is still close to my heart. You know, I've the complete collection of this Magazine !

The budget surprises you missed. - The Haj subsidy

2010-04-02T14:49:00.000+05:30

" The budget surprises you missed. "
I am referring an article in Business Today magazine ( April 4, 2010). An interesting, but surprising, article lists down a few surprises we all missed in the recent Central Budget. This includes :
The asset register of the Centre ... I am (nor most of you would) not surprised. That's just an information.
Down with downsizing. That's regarding the increasing (against the needs) government size (the staff strengthwise). That too is not anything serious to me.
The least and the most taxed. Yes this is a certainly an interesting news. The most taxed are the Beauty parlors ! And the least are the Forest contractors. That's not justice.. isn't it ?

The last one here is ... The Haj high-jack !
This is about the subsidies and the Govt.'s politics playing with... Let me quote :
" While much debate has taken place over the spurt in food and fertiliser subsidies in the recent years ... another subsidy that has skyrocketed in terms of growth rate is the Haj subsidy. In each of the past two years, the actual amount spent on this subsidy has overshot the estimate by over 50%. The Govt now spends close to 1000 crores a year on this only subsidy for a religious pilgrimage. Moreover, India is the only country to provide a Haj subsidy. Pakisthan was the other country to have provided this subsidy, but it discontinued it in the late 1990s. Surely there are better ways of spending the same money on minority welfare without losing out on vote bank politics."

Over 1000 crores for Haj pilgrimage (that too for the rich class of people) !
Not even Pakisthan does this !!

This is almost a secretive expenditure. Does not BJP or other parties know this ?? They must be !

Even at my age of 60, I could not visit Kashi or Ramesvaram. I could not afford to travel/stay there. No one ever gave me a subsidy for travel.. not abroad... well within my own country. Foreseeing this, our Gurus have told us that GOD is everywhere, and you may pray at your choice. Not necessarily at Kashi . So, I keep praying in my bedroom with the post card size picture of Lord Shiva.

Will our Govt give me a 50% subsidy for my inland travel for pilgrimage ?
This is exactly the question Mr.John, my close friend, too asks. He wanted to visit St.Francis Church at Cochin. He can't afford the travel expenses. Will the Govt give him a subsidy for travel ?

Our Govt may not do this . But they would spend over 1000 crores (may be 2000 crores this year) for the pilgrimage of the richest Muslims to Mecca.
Is this justifiable ? Where is justice ?

Nature's designs

2010-03-29T10:18:00.000+05:30

Fractal mind

2010-03-18T15:09:00.000+05:30

Photograph of my mind ! The fractal mind !!

Calculator - priceless !

2010-02-11T13:29:00.000+05:30

I bought an Electronic Scientific Calculator in 1976. I had to pay 900 Rs. That was over half my monthly income.
Last day I wanted a Calculator, a basic one. While roaming around the market area, I found a big stack of calculators in the footpath shop. I found one of the kind I am in need. I asked him the price. 20 ! In doubt, I asked him again. 100 for six, he said. Yes ..that's how it is . A simple one costs just about 16 Rs. Buy one, you pay 20 !
It's Chinese made. But the seller assured that it will go for a decade ! What more do I need ? I'll be too happy if it works for an year !! I bought two. One for me and one for my grandson (5).

MS-DOS is multitasking !

2010-01-30T12:13:00.000+05:30

MS-DOS was a single tasking single user Operating System for PCs. Right ?
MS-Windows is multi tasking multi user OS. right ?

Ok. But some of you would remember that the (not so ) humble MS-DOS was in effect multi tasking, had you used Framework III.

Framework was an Office suite, working on MS-DOS. It had a Word-processor, a Spreadsheet, a Database package, a Presentation package, and with a built in programming language 'FRED'.

You could use more than one of these simultaneously, on your DOS machine. Each application was a frame (a window ). A virtual multitasking !! Remember, this was even before MS-Windows appeared.

Newest words in dictionary

2010-01-12T12:37:00.001+05:30

Here is a listing of a few “ newest words “ officially entered into English language. You can see them in the Marriam Webster dictionary.

Vlog Video Blog – Blog containing Video material.

Webisode Web Episode. TV show that can be viewed through the web

Sock puppet A false identity used for deceptive purposes.

Flash mob A crowd that descend on a designated location to perform an event.

Lovacore Person who eats only locally grown food.

Green collar Jobs designed to help the environment.

More words are springing up… you’ll see them shortly in the official English.

Shakespearean English

2009-12-18T10:40:00.000+05:30

Here is a bit notice I got last day. From a local caterer, the notice is quite interesting. It speaks for itself.

Did you understand what they meant ? If Yes, then it's OK. If the caterer is not good at English, atleast the DTP operator or someone else must have helped him make it reasonable. No one expects a "Shakespearean language', but it must be reasonably correct.

Visitor to vaazhakkula

2009-12-18T09:38:00.000+05:30

Vaazhakkula continues... And there was a visitor ! I caught him for you !

A bat ! with his 'head-lights' on !

Suicide - a crime

2009-12-09T12:10:00.000+05:30

Any attempt for suicide is a crime. The MP from AP, Sri. K C R, is on a suicide attempt. It's certainly a suicide attempt, for what ever reason he is on that. Why is that our "law enforcers" and the Government silent ? ( I know, that's politics ! ) Whatever 'politics' he is engaged in, he should be refrained from such act of 'suicide'.

234567

2009-11-25T15:44:00.000+05:30

This may not be something interesting to you. But, I've been waiting for this magic number on my 2wheeler. It's here today morning. I am sooo....... haappy !!!

The perverted Fr.Pallath

2009-11-23T10:57:00.004+05:30

I feel irritated ! An author, Father JJ Pallath ( must be a Keralite ) wrote the following nasty text in his essay. The link is given below. This perverted 'father' abuses Namboothiris, and the whole of Keralites .

http://www.hrsolidarity.net/mainfile.php/2002vol12no05/2235/?print=yes

Quote :
"

WOMEN AND CASTE DISCRIMINATION: The Namboothiri-Dominated Period of Kerala Culture and Society: The Oppression of Women and the Misuse of Religious Authority - Part 2

Fr. J. J. Pallath
[Ed. Note: This is the second in our two-part series by Fr. J. J. Pallath about the Namboothiris, the Brahmins of the Indian state of Kerala. The first part was published in the May 2002 issue of Human Rights SOLIDARITY.]

'The Malayalees' psyche of double standards is all-pervasive. '
Care for Outward Appearance
The Malayalees' psyche of double standards is all-pervasive. The Malayalees take extra care in being externally clean in their dressing and housing. Kerala hotels are the only ones in the country where cooking is done behind a curtain without being noticed by the customers. We know though that the cooking is done in the most unhygienic manner. However, the facade of the hotel looks grand and neat. The same applies to latrines; for at home and in public, the Malayalees give little care in keeping their toilet clean and neat, but their houses are the most modern palaces. In short, Malayalees look externally well dressed, but their undergarments are dirty and stinking.
The guilt that they were exploiting the lower castes seemed to have continued to prick their conscience though, and the Namboothiris appear to have compensated for it by being externally clean through ritual baths and wearing white clothes as the practice of taking a bath both in the morning and evening and wearing predominantly white dress is still considered to be a Malayalee characteristic.

“

I wonder how many Keralites' stinky undergarments did Fr.Pallath try before writing like this.

Birth of a "Vaazhakkula" -2

2009-11-07T14:33:00.000+05:30

4, November2009

5 November, 2009

6 November, 2009

7 November, 2009