The Thoughts Pile

A Frozen Wonder

2007-10-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to taste the essence of paradise when you’re still alive? Ever imagined what a real spiritual experience would be like? Then the place you’re looking for is the ice hotel in the village Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. Yes, a hotel totally made of ‘ICE’…. The only thing you get there unlimited. You think it’s a fantasy? Then stop thinking… for it does exist. And if you’re unsure of why it’s even more special is that it is constructed each year…but very different like chalk and cheese.

The ice hotel was first constructed in the late 1980’s. Every winter, the work begins at the start of November and terminates by the end of December. The work cannot fire up until the temperature has dropped down up to -10 to -5 degrees and the time between November to December is the most ideal one. Once its time the effort begins. To build any elfin structure, a support is a must and thus the constructors erect arched frames and then the concrete has to be used….concrete? Yes, concrete with the blend of water as air. Confused? This is how it is made. Hundreds of liters of water is pumped and then is fired under high pressure, and when the water is mixed with air this concrete which looks like snow is formed… they call this snice. Subsequently the snice is left to settle and take shape of the frame.

With light less than 5 hours a day, the constructors have no choice but continue the work before the deadline if not all their efforts would go wasted. Thus with no time to waste the work continues. After all the hard work luck too matters a lot. If the weather turns warm then the construction is wrecked. Once the snice is settled the frames have to be removed and that is the most tricky part. If the snice is not set enough then the structure will collapse. The builder’s team should also be sure that the snice is not even weakened. Here the experience of the builders counts. The frames are removed one at a time.

Once the Arch is completed, ice blocks are made to erect columns. And the secret ingredient to join beach block is….any guesses? Its ‘water’! Ice walls are made to separate the atrium and each room. Every year a mystical chapel is also constructed. Any plans of getting married in a place that you want to cherish all your life? Don’t give a second thought…this is where you belong.

The moment the exterior is done… the work on the interior begins. The ice artists begin to create their master pieces. Each room is decorated in a very different way. Everything is unique and different every year, except for one – the chandelier on the atrium, which epitomizes the ice hotel. The whole hotel tends to be a large living piece of art. A piece of art that is born, breathes for a while and then its gone…. It gives a spiritual experience, an experience where you can feel the existence of yourself and nature and then…..it goes back to nature. It lives and perishes every year giving a hope for a new incarnation… the next year.

Beat the odds - $100 PC

2007-09-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Are you planning to buy yourself a PC but wanna go easy on those pockets? Then here’s your chance. Go grab the new Nova NetPC introduced by Chennai based company Novatium Solutions. The NetPC was launched this month in New Delhi in tie-ups with the MTNL.

The PC consists of a keyboard, a monitor, mouse and USB ports. It uses a central network server to run software applications and store data. The NetPC works on a technology called “thin client” and is very simple. You will just have to switch it on and it automatically gets connected to the main server. The NetPC does not include local hard disks and no built in softwares. You are provided with 300MB storage from the server and incase you want more storage you’re free to buy it. You get access to the soft wares through the server. The PC supports Operating Softwares such as Microsoft Windows, Linux or Sun Solaris. It supports applications based on voice, streaming video, data and graphics.

The Nova NetPC is supposed to be priced at $100. The Nova NetPC home user package is available for Rs.1, 999 (plus taxes) without the monitor (monitor available at an extra cost of Rs.3000/-) in addition to a monthly subscription starting at Rs.399, including a 30 hour Internet access. Thus the basic cost will come up to Rs.6000 – 7000. May be that’s what you call user friendly.

You could go on and by the NetPC for the reason that it won’t give you a hard blow on your pocket and that itself is the best part of it. Technology like NetPC has made computers affordable for people who don’t have much money to spend. Apart from this the other positive elements of the NetPC could be that it uses a totally new hardware design that lowers the cost of acquisition and it also uses less electricity compared to the other desktop computers.

Talking about the darker side the data security is the matter to worry about. Unless the company guarantees full data security the users are not out of risk. The problem also lies in the internet connection where a country like India has great problem in connectivity, specially the rural areas. And though the PC is available in $100 the user will still have to pay the internet charges every month if not he would have to allow dust to settle on his PC.

The concept of Thin Client too is not very new because there are already such company who have thought of the concept like the Enjay Network Solutions who have introduced the Enjay ThinClient Version 2L, Enjay ThinClient Version 2ica. We also have a French company who started MINITEL. But we still never knew how great The Nova NetPC will prove to be. It’s time to see how successfully it runs in the market. And for implementing a rare concept… cheers to Novatium Solutions.

Blast from the past!

2007-09-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

India… Pakistan… India… Pakistan… India… Pakistan…This was the rhythm of the heart beats of millions of people watching the final match of the Twenty 20 World Cup. One small mistake by one team would lead to the victory of another. It was just a narrow line. Just then Pakistani batsman Misbah-ul-Haq scooped the ball bowled by Indian bowler Joginder Sharma high up in the air and the spectators almost lost a heart beat...and their mouths all wide open to watch where the ball lands… The gravity of the earth pulled the ball towards it and ……….it landed in the hands of the Indian fielder Sreesanth. Pakistan – 152, all out and the roars of victory began to linger all over. India beat

Pakistan

by 5 runs and was declared the first Champion of the Twenty 20 World cup.

The match was really an un-predictable match. Both the teams had equal chance for winning, but India turned out to be lucky. Pakistan needed just 13 runs from the last over out of which the first ball was a wide and Misbah had also managed to hit a six. This is when the situation became more tensed and the winning chances had become 50-50. But Pakistan proved to be on the unlucky side. But though Pakistan didn’t get the Championship they have nothing to lose. They have won the hearts of millions of people all around the world. Irfan Pathan was awarded as the man of the match for his wonderful 3 wickets. The Pakistani player Shahid Afridi was awarded as the man of the tournament.

The Twenty 20 Indian team succeeded in getting India a new championship after a very long time. And Dhoni – he’s the man behind all success. His quick and clever decisions and his wonderful support to the other players have given a chance for all of them to embrace the trophy. For all the hard work the BCCI showered $2 million on the team and also Rs.1 cr. to Yuvraj Singh. The Karnataka CM has offered 5lakhs to Robin Uttappa and the same to Venktesh Prasad for guiding the boys in bowling. Sahara India has offered all of them a flat each. R.P Singh is also been awarded with Rs.10 lakhs by the U.P govt. for his performance.

The Twenty 20 team consisted of all players from small cities and the team was a fresh one and no people had any hopes. Their expectation was very low. But the team proved everyone wrong and there they were on the field standing victorious and raising the banners of India. Now the scene has change – the Indians are all waiting to welcome the team home to celebrate the blast and every Indian today has just two words to say… “CHAK DE INDIA”.

Escape from truth

2007-09-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

Truth is often attended with danger; and this proved to be true in the case of four Mid-Day journalists who were sentenced four months of imprisonment this Friday for publishing news reports that were against the former Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal.

The Division bench that included Justice R S Sodhi and Justice B N Chaturvedi of the Delhi High Court regarded the journalists guilty of contempt of court for “tarnishing the image of the Supreme Court” and publishing scandalous articles against the Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal. The Mid-day carried news articles that stated that the orders issued by the bench headed by Y.K Sabharwal was in favor of his son who had tie ups with many developers. The Division convicted the journalists of crossing the “Laxman Rekha” (borders) and sentenced them four months imprisonment.

The journalists who were found guilty are MK Tayal the City editor, S.K. Akhtar, the Publisher, Vitusha Oberoi the Resident Editor, and Irfan Khan the Cartoonist. The court ordered the journalists to furnish a personal bond of Rs.10,000 each and two sureties of the same amount for bail. Vitusha Oberoi said that they were pleading not guilty and that truth is their defence.

The deepest truths are best read between the lines, and, for the most part, refuse to be written and when we come across truth, it’s hard to digest and so we try to ignore it. If what the journalists have published is true then the court, instead of just cutting the bud should go to the roots and find out who the real pest is and try to analyze it. The truth must reach the public if it is for the public good and in case it is hidden then that itself is a crime. We live in a democratic country and the very essence of democracy is the right to know what’s happening in our own nation. Instead of just choking the voice of the journalists which they claim is true, why don’t we go out and have an investigation of what the matter really is. This would prove and solve everything. Instead of encouraging the fire why don’t we try to stop it? At this time what we have to keep in mind is the famous quote from the Bible “but above all things truth is victor”.

6 – 6 What a hit!

2007-09-20T07:12:00.001-07:00

The winning team has a dedication. It will have a core of veteran players who set the standards. They will not accept defeat. And may be that’s what you can say about the Indian Twenty 20 team which conquered everyone’s hearts in yesterday’s match. India won by 18 runs and thus still exists to fight a battle against South Africa to enter the semi-finals.

But for Yuvraj Singh – 6 sixes in a row! He was the king of kings in the field. Andrew Flintoff must have flipped out by Yuvraj’s reply to the cold fight between them. Though Yuvraj later commented that Flintoff was one of his very good friend and small fights do happen in the field, but it’s always wise to end it up within the field, we all know that it still had some effect.

Yuvraj set a new record of the fastest half century scored in an international match. 6 sixes back to back was not an easy task. There are some defeats more triumphant than victories. And so did his bad performance in bowling that had given a chance to Dimitri Mascarenhas to hit 5 sixes in a row forced him to give an answer this time. Now what do you call this Tit for Tat?

When asked Yuvraj said that he had a horrible feeling on during this bad performance for he was getting calls after calls by people complaining about his bad performance. He said he was waiting for a chance to reply. And the chance did come. Six sixes from a main bowler (Stuart Broad) was great indeed. The captain Dhoni said that sometime back he was asked whether Yuvraj was in the team just for bowling – but now he doesn’t have to answer that question.

For all the Indians that was a great package of sixes. Its become a hot topic to talk about till another such record is set.

Error or terror? – Britney Spears

2007-09-20T02:26:00.000-07:00

Oops you didn’t do it again! Britney Spears who is well known for her extremely wonderful stage performances failed to do it again. This time she is blamed to have committed a great blunder on stage. Britney’s performance at the MTV Video Music Awards has become a piece of gossip in everyone’s mouth. The performance of her new single “Gimme More” at the VMA was supposed to be a great comeback. But it turned out to be a great disaster.

Every single Britney fan was in the first place waiting to see her performance with Criss Angel and hoping for something really new. But the only illusion the people saw was their hopes turn into ashes. It was never a comeback but a stage for gossip.

People have refused to watch her anymore because of her weight. They claim that, may be the mother of two didn’t realize that she has put on weight. But people, wake up! Come on now, you know the fact that she is a mother of two and that she is bound to put on weight and anyways she is now having an ideal weight and is not under weight like before. Health wise, she rocks! If you think over it again you’ll realize that 75% of women after having two kids go way too out of shape but at least Britney doesn’t look that bad. The Craze for having a “Size 0 Model” figure has been driving people nuts. Its not really about the figure, its about the attitude!

But of course about her clothes you’re right! She really needs to think again. Because that’s what was making her look what people call fat!

The reader’s Den - Shelfari

2007-09-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught. If you are look for one such fine fish that you’ve never caught, then here’s a site that you must visit – http://www.shelfari.com/ . Welcome to the reader’s den. If you consider book as your best friend and would like to showcase the books you’ve read then this is where you have to be.

Seattle based social media site Shelfari, was co-founded by Josh Hug and Kevin Beukelman and was officially launched in October 2006. In February 2007 Amazon.com saw its future in this social network and invested in Shelfari

Once you’re the member of this online community of book readers, you can enjoy all its features, like create your profile where you can also upload your photograph, add friends, open your own book shelf where you display all the books you’ve read. Shelfari also allows you to display the books that your reading currently, and also the wish list to display those books you would like to read sometime in future. Apart form this you can also organize your books by adding tags which helps you to categorize the books. The members are free to comment on the books they’ve read and also hold discussions. You can also form your own group within the community where you can interact with the member of similar reading tastes.

If you are curious to find out what books your friends read or may be even like to compete with them, then don’t forget to invite them to Shelfari! And if you’ve still not visited shelfari then take your own sip and find out how mouthwatering it is.

Whoz the Better Man? - Maruti SX4 Review

2007-09-15T05:52:00.000-07:00

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush – so is Maruti's new launch the SX4. Its basically designed as an all inclusive car or what we call a complete package! Not only is the new SX4 a tough competitor to the sedan cars of other companies but also to its own sister cars (Esteem, Baleno). The SX4 which is an apple of everyone's eye from outside also shares very good features from inside. All you need to do is explore! It's a five seater car which also includes arm rest for the back seats. You can also enjoy a wide leg space which increases the comfort level.

The SX4 comes in two versions – the basic model VXi (which is not really basic) and the high end model ZXi. Both the version share adjustable steering, five gears, AC with extra adjustable blowers, Power Windows, Central locking with remote, remote boot, remote fuel filler, body color bumpers, tachometer, electrically adjustable rear view mirror and rear defogger. The features that differentiate ZXi from VXi is that the ZXi includes alloys, fog lamp, airbags and ABS. Both the versions are available only in petrol. The fuel tank capacity is 50.00 and the top speed is 185.

SX4 has also a wide range of color selection such as Metallic Silky Silver, Metallic Clear Beige, Metallic Midnight Black, Metallic Sunlight Copper, Pearl Metallic Arctic White, Metallic Supreme Red and Metallic Azure Grey. The VXi is available at Rs.6,54,00 and the ZXi at Rs.7,25,000. Now that's a Man.

What’s the matter all about?

2007-09-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

India, that hails with millions of people who are cricket fanatics all have a puzzled look on their face today. They look like they are in great trauma. “Rahul Dravid wants to step down”. Rahul Dravid wants to step down? Why? This Question has been running across the minds of all those people who stay at home with their family to watch cricket, all those people who glare at the TV screen in the airports, all those people who block the road watching cricket in front of every TV showroom. Why? After doing so well in the England series and having lost only narrowly in the final match and at this juncture when India has to face a very good competition with Pakistan, Why has the captain decided to quit the captainship?

On a meeting with Mr. Sharad Pawar, The President of the BCCI yesterday (13th Sep.), Rahul Dravid said the he wants to step down from the post of the Indian Cricket Captain. He also said that he would continue to play as a batsman and not remain in the captain’s seat. Mr. Niranjan Shah, The Secretary of the BCCI opined that may be the captain wants to concentrate on the big game. People are under high pressure when they are given the responsibility of something. We can take Sachin Tendulkar’s Captainship as an example which had shown a great effect on his scores. And may be that’s the reason as to why Rahul had been batting badly quite sometime. But the Question is now at this point of time when India is doing well, why does Rahul wants to step down. A time when India was badly defeated by Bangladesh would have been a time for Rahul to decide. But why now?

If the people are ready to digest this fact, the next fact that hits us is the selection of the new captain. Who would be the next captain? Who would be Rahul’s successor? The two names that strike fast is M.S.Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. On this Mr. Ajay Jadeja, India’s former Vice Captain says that Dhoni would be a wrong choice. The first preference should always go to the latter. Apart from this the other players would be V. Sehwag or the former captains Sachin Tendulkar or Sourav Ganguly. It would be a decision of either going 2 steps ahead or two steps behind.

Who ever will be the next captain, the Indian cricket team when asked too said that is a great shock. The relationship with the seniors wouldn’t be an issue because as far as the public knows, he shares quite a good relation with his seniors. The Shock has now led the people to search for the conspiracy theory. But for the people its cricket. Its now become a great part of their life. To state the words of a layman, “ A CEO of a Company Wouldn’t say that he wants to step down from his post just because he wants to be an ordinary member. The Keyword is Stress.” Whatever may be the reason…. The question still remains….

In Kipling's Court - The Jungle Book

2007-09-14T03:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves to be nostalgic, and I for one get really nostalgic, today while on one of the forums came across a song which had become a craze back in my school days. Chaddi Pahen ke phool khila hai.... (Chuckles), now i bet you get the drift, its the Jungle Book. Back in the days of Doordarshan, kids didn't had the luxory of bunch of dedicated 24 hour cartoon channels, and we had to make do with weekely dose of cartoons on sunday morning at 10 am. Many a series were telecasted back then but one which got everybody hooked up was The Jungle Book. I had scene the Jungle Book Movie and had a paper back kiddie version of the Kipling's classic, But seeing it episode wise week after week was like a cult following. Week after week, just loved the way story unflurred. It maybe Kipling's magical writing that made The Jungle Book so popular world over, but in India, the credit for it huge success also goes to its tittle track. It became very popular and for the first time, even the grownups knew or used to mouth a track of a cartoon series, it was just phenomenal. Here is a tribute to that ever green track....

Jungle Jungle Baat chali hai, Pata chala hai....
Jungle Jungle Baat chali hai, Pata chala hai....,
Arre chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai..... phool khila hai...,
Arre chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai..... phool khila hai...,
Jungle Jungle Baat chali hai,
chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai.... phool khila hai....

Ek Parinda hai sharminda... Tha woh nanga,
arre isse to ande ke andar... tha woh changa,
Soch raha hai bahar akhir kyon nikla hai,
Arre chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai..... phool khila hai...,
Jungle Jungle Baat chali hai, chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai.... phool khila hai.

For those who want to download it and keep in there collection here is from where u can download its Mp3 version. http://rapidshare.de/files/1058273/junglebook-title1.mp3.html

Lesson of Life

2007-09-14T02:54:00.000-07:00

Lesson of Life

I don’t know why
I’m here today
Watching the sky
As I do everyday

I see the stars
High above me
Tonight I’m here
Tomorrow, I know not where I’ll be

How can I dreamAbout my future?
How can I thinkAbout my destiny?
Because, I know not what is my future
Nor what is my destiny

Life is my best teacher
It says don’t think about the future
It advices to be satisfied
With the little space you’ve occupied.