Posts

Showing posts from 2006

Bonenkai 2006

108 New Year chimes and 'Golden' contemplations

Image
New year celebrations is one thing common to wherever you live in, so as Santa and Christmas lights harbingering the onset of new year. Along with "mochitsuki", the making of mochi: glutinous rice cake and exchanging "nengajou": New year postcards, one of the remarkable characteristic of Japanese new year celebrations is the traditional ritual of tolling temple chimes 108 times . When I first saw it in the TV, last year, 108-toll of Japan's biggest bell at the famous Chion-in temple, Kyoto I could instantaneously track its origin back to India, the country where I hail from. 108 has always been the most divine number in Hinduism. Thoughts about number 108 also became reminiscent of my grandmother, who used to chime Hindu litany 108 times when I was a kid. Later I came to know that 108 is a holy number in Buddhism as well, most relevant example being 108 balls in Buddhist prayer bead: Juzu. As with Juzu, one of the most famous explanation could be Lord Buddha'

Is this the way to teach kids about abortion?

土佐市人権教育第4回 同和問題・外国人の人権

The iFlux's take on "The Saddam Hussein Indictment"

Image
The verdict has come, Saddam has given the capital punishment by the American puppet administration in Iraq. There were much controversy surrounding the timing of this, especially when 'W' is struggling to win the congressional elections. Now that the strategies of W miserably failed to bag support from the American taxpayers, but i would still argue that this gubernatorial fiasco has nothing to do with his Iraq arbitration , the decision of invading the state 3 years ago. It IS Rumsfeld who has to be blamed for this Republican annihilation; especially after reading Slate ' s portrayal of his biggest blunders. I dream of tomorrows when the countries and the differences wherein can be merged to the 'one world' full of happiness. There exists a huge responsibility for rich and powerful democratic countries of today to fight for the human rights anywhere else where it is being questioned, let it be in Africa or in Middle east. It is apparent that ALL of the Muslim a

Professional Diving Business: India as a potential candidate.

Image
Current status of professional diving in India. The scene of Pro-Diving business in India is still at startup stage, that could perhaps make it an intelligent choice for the future investment. A quick search at PADI would reveal that only 4 major dive schools are situated in India, 2 in Andaman Islands and 2 in Goa, both are beach/ocean tourist destinations. In parallel to PADI, SSI also administer few diving schools in Goa. Ideal location to Invest Consideration of Indian coral-reef distribution for a thoughtful integration into pro-diving business would be a good approach. 4 major reef locations in India are GULF OF KACHCHH LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS GULF OF MANNAR ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS Only Andaman Island in the above list is being utilized as a dive location at the moment. By far, the most wide-stretched coral reef ecosystem

Slowly pivot your arm forward till it dominates the disputed territory.

Image
When you're flying coach, every inch counts. Follow these three simple steps to claim the elbow room – and comfort – you deserve. 1. Midway through takeoff, recline your seat 2 inches. 2. Slip your elbow into the gap between your neighbor's seat back and your own. 3. Slowly pivot your arm forward till it dominates the disputed territory.

Paragliding at Niyodo beach, Usa, Japan

TUV, Streaming Broadband to the commercial Channels

Image
I have been living in Japan for almost 1 and half years. Out of my great interest to access some english TV channels that I used to watch back in IIT-B , I did try all means. Inquiring at a local satellite TV vendor made me understand having access to all those channels at home TV is not a cakewalk. I gotta spend minimum 20,000 yen a month to access this list of english channels: CNN, CNN Pipeline, ABC, FOX, Star world, Animal planet, Cartoon network,Channel V, MTV, AXN, ESPN, Comedy central and HBO I then tried internet to access the low quality video stream, only ABC's stream that I could able to access (other than 100s of school/indie channels that are available here .). BBC still provide news roundup free of charge though video quality is so egregious. ABC has stopped streams for international users some 4 months ago, now that NONE of the above channels available through internet, until 2 weeks ago, when this application called TVU launched. Download it here , unzip, install

たいこーおどり

宇佐のたいこー踊りの準備。日本人の友達と僕、アパートの前。 powered by performancing firefox

How to Increase your English vocabulary using internet?

(In reply to Yahoo answers, original post appears here . Let me summarize some of the tools computers/Internet has to offer you to increase your vocab. Definitely you should look other ways as well, but IT is damn powerful and easiest way! I would suggest you to use web extensively to learn English. These are my few suggestions: 1. Install Firefox (Internet Browser), install a plug in (Extension) called Dictionary tool-tip . When you restart your fire fox, Tool-tip will work :-) This will immensely help you to know meanings of words you encounted newly. Just double clicking on any word will pop-up a definition, you can chose any major dictionaries to do this task. 2) Read lot. Especially from the good sources, I suggest you two major sources: BBC English learning page and The New Yorker magazine (Sources provided). BBC have H2G2 community, where you can put a writeup for evaluation. H2G2 is great I tell you! 3) Install Real player . Stream Radio stations, especially NPR and BBC. Thi

身体障害の問題:インドー日本、 土佐市役所、九月 十三日

Image
Summary of comments and evaluation from the attendees of this program . powered by performancing firefox

池川旅行2006年

Image
7月15日10時半から、池川へ行きました。お母さんとその友達ふたり、小谷さんと島田さん、娘のゆかさん、ネパールのニラオラさんと一緒です。仁淀川の景色を見ながら行きました。仁淀川はとてもきれいでした。 途中で野菜を買いました。昼ごはんはいの町のむささびの里という、道の駅で、とんかつ定食を食べました。とてもおいしかったです。むささびの剥製を初めてみました。 ビデオはここにありますよ! いの町から池川町へ行く途中、まわりの山にお茶の段々畑がたくさんありました。仁淀川もきれいだったけど、お茶の畑や山もとてもきれいです。 1時に池川町につきました。そこでNHKからもらった恐竜のおりがみを、お母さんがみんなに教えました。 とてもむずかしかったけど、緑の服を着た男の子は3時間で全部作りました。ひとりだけ すごいですね!!! 5時から晩御飯の準備を始めました。インドのカレーとネパールのモモ(たぶん餃子のようなもの)を作りました。作るとき、学生さんもみんな一緒に作ったので、面白かったです。 7時から、作ったものをみんなで食べました。半分の人はおいしいと言ったけど、半分は辛すぎると言いました。 ご飯を食べ終わってから、ニラオラさんはネパールについてパソコンを使って、話をしました。 私は去年の秋、池川に行ったときにとった写真をみんなに見せました。そしてインドについての話をしました。そして私の作ったクイズを印刷して皆にあげました。 道の おなじ はし に 五つ の 家 があり それぞれ 別々 の 色 です。四人 の 外国人 と 一人 の 日本人 で 別々 の 家 に 住んでいます。5人 は 別々 の 飲み物 を 飲むし 別々 の タバコ を すうし 別々 の ペット を 飼っています。(だれも おなじ 飲み物 や タバコ や ペット は ありません、全部 別々 です)。 問題 は: 猫 を 飼っている人 は だれですか? ヒント: 赤い 家 に イギリス人 住んでいます アメリカ人 の ペット は 犬です。 ぺル人 は お茶 を 飲みます 緑の家 は 白い 家 の 左にあります 緑の家 の 人 は コーヒー を 飲みます パルマル と言う タバコ を すう人 は 鳥 を 飼っています 黄色 の家 に 住む人 は ダヌヒル と言う タバコ を すいます。 真ん中 の 家 に 住む人 は 牛乳

Why I want to be a cat in my next birth?

Image
When people who believe in life after death asks me who I want to be in my next life, I say cat. Why? Because cats, they are the beings I love most in this life. Refer to my home to know why I am a feline aficionado. Yes, I want to be a cat. Because I love to be dynamic in my life. I always love the dynamicity, the change in me, try different things and to adapt with the reason why I changed. Being a cat would be just amazing, Changing into an altogether different perspective, an identity matchless to the material universe defined by human. Playful with anything I like, arrogant to the everything I hate, forgetting what has happened and possessing no grudge, adapting to an altogether different environment, play the prey before it's death or consumption, play the life to it is fullest...that is a cat, the most wonderful being on this planet. Cats, they are the model beings for the 'neutrality' as per the human perception are concerned. Do I think being faithful matters much

stairway to heaven

How to recover and archive hidden flickr photos if you are not a pro user?

Image
Flickr is unarguably most popular photo site in the world. I have been using it from 2003 but unfortunately I could never change my subscription to paid 'Pro' status due to economical constraints. Successive to the Yahoo take over, Flickr has changed it's policy for free users by limiting the number of photos to 200. This means that though you can very well upload 20 MB each month for any long period, only last 200 photos are accessible through flickr site. After seeing disappearance of thousands of my old photos that I have been uploading since 2003 at the flickr site and could not be found on 'archives' section, I contacted the flickr team. This is how they responded: On 6/30/06, Flickr Support < case104601@support.flickr.com > wrote: Hi Felix, You will have to delete your newer photos or upgrade to Pro in order to recover your older, hidden photos. Regards, Ana If you are a huge flickr fan and have similar difficulties in accessin

Name, that matters

Image
Many (thanks to social network services) asks me why did I change my name. To tell you that, let me give you a little of my back ground. In India, there still exists thousands of years old hierarchical caste system in which there are 4 prevailing classes where topmost class is known as brahman . If you look in to history, brahmans are in fact not original indians, they are a clade migrated from Europe and conquered native indians (Dravidians) a long long time ago. A Recent rDNA Profiling evidence traces Brahman clade back to finland. I was born in a hindu family, aristocratic and priestly as it has a tag of brahman. I remember when I was young, my grandma used to say we are living gods and goddesses and I have to be very reserved while making friends outside brahmans. She did not even care to touch low caste people, and this untouchability still exists in many part of greater India. Brahmans are vegans, and I was brought up as a pure vegetarian too. Till I was 18 yrs old I never even

Me and my cat, honest arrogance justified!

Image
Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasion to change He was a man of great creative energy. His architectural style was revolutionary in its design. The Journal of the American Institute of Architects at the time of his death stated that "his place in history is secure. His continuing influence is assured. This country's architectural achievements would be unthinkable without him. He has been a teacher to us all." Frank Lloyd Wright , famous American architect and writer said the above quoted words and I find it pretty much like my own life. It is not that I upheld a puritan philosophy, but honest arrogance is what I value than the humility which is hypocritical. I was much attracted to him, his words and his style such an extant that if ever I have to name my model individual, just Lloyd! For those who have never heard about him, let me provide you a brief sketch of his life, mostl

Taepodong and me

Image
Now that North Korea finally did it , irking the powerful nations. I have always been a pacifist but I find no reason why to condemn the test done by the North Korea a day ago. North Korea is after all a republic with all the powers of a free state and the decisions are ultimatum of that republic. The missile is obviously part of a future offensive, but I couldn’t digest it why powerful nations only have to possess the arms. US or Japan have no moral or ethical right to speak a word against this latest missile testing of the North Koreans unless they disarm all nuclear and chemical weaponry in possession. They indeed have the right to impose economic sanctions , and I believe that in that case Pyongyang must have been well prepared to phase it prior to the decision of missile testing was taken. And I am in favour of such sanctions if any, that might limit their further proliferation of arms. Yesterday in the BBC webcast (full transcript here ), I saw the reaction of president Putin t

Asia Union 2006

Image
I spent the last weekend (1st and 2nd of July) with Japanese students of Kochi university in the so called 'Asia Union'. When I got a call from Miss Ai masuyama requesting me to participate and give my talk, I commented that the very title 'Asia Union' invites location based prejudice that shouldnt be done in a university campus. Obviously she didn't listen, hence the banner remained AU when I arrived. Well, KU has so little foreign students if any from out of Asia , yet I have friends who are from Kenya, Chile and Poland with in this university. That was the exact reason why I strongly suggested her to consider renaming. It was fun, being with teen japanese in the venue. Almost all were girls aged 18-22, and the organization was funny. I did try my usual culinary skills, with the so called 'Indian Pork Curry' and few really enjoyed it (believe me!). AU is more like booze party and watching soccer in the big TV in a group of some 30 people (but alas,

Tobe zoo

Image
We have been to this zoo, tobe in Ehime prefecture, Japan. Intra zoo shuttle bus as shown here, is just so cute. The path leading to the main entrance has emulated footprints of animals, a wonderful pedagogical approach. This zoo has some of the coolest penguins I have ever seen in Japan. Indian elephant is almost dead and pretty chaotic state of 'monkey town' are few negatives, yet the visit is really worth !

Tobe Zoo, Japan, one of the best known zoo for White bear, Flamingo and Seal

Beautiful animals, exquisite landscape...visit to Tobe is always memorable.