Enthiran - Robots have feelings?

A few weeks back I had gone out with my parents to watch Enthiran. The movie was, of course, really wonderful, fantastic and excellent in all aspects! At first the concept that a humanoid has feelings boggled me. I simply couldn't come to accept it but since it was just a movie, I didn't really care about it. Although now, thinking about it makes me realize that it is possible. For this, I started thinking of how do feelings arise. How do feelings come about? A machine only has knowledge stored in its memory. It has a "brain" that consists...

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Tapping on the Unknown Factor

It has been so long since I've made a post in this blog. Therefore, I would like to start today, especially when it is such an auspicious day like Deepavali. There are many stories behind Deepavali. The general theme of them all, however, is the inevitable victory of good over evil. This assumes that there are two opposing poles called good and evil. This is a wrong assumption because evil is just the absence of goodness. So in essence, there is only goodness, but when it is absent in someone or something, we call it evil.  There is a wonderful short story I came across from one of my friend's email. It says:  One...

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A small dream came true today! :)

I love dogs! Many times I've not had any opportunity of playing and spending time with dogs. However, today I had that opportunity. I visited my friend's house and she had three cute boys: Burny, Skye and Coozer... Two golden retrievers and a labrador... So cute! I loved the time spent with them. They were all friendly dogs!!! :)...

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Must Read Book - Demolishing Christianity

A wonderful critique of Christianity written by a learned Hindu, Chattampi Swamigal: http://bharateeya.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/kristumata-chedanam-chattampi-swamikal-english-translation/ After reading this critique, so filled with logic and excellent reasoning, Christianity no longer seems like a sane religion to me. It is filled with such illogical concepts, that every paragraph of this book made me laugh out loud! Hindus are said to be very tolerant and respectful towards other faiths. We don't attack them at all. However, when they attack Hinduism we also don't defend ourselves. Such losers we are!  A real and sincere...

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A Church Bans Yoga!

Here's the news article that is of the title of this post. This news is ridiculous, but the fact is that people of the Christian faith, especially those in the position of maintaining the order of the Church, are very afraid that their religion will be taken over, stampeded upon or thrashed down by another rival religion. Why are they so afraid, if what they have in their religion is solid? How can there be any room for confusion, by just doing some simple spiritual exercise like Yoga?...

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'Confessions' of a vegetarian

For the past two years or so, everyone of my friends and family members know that I was a vegetarian. Yes, you've read correctly. I used the past tense. I was a vegetarian. I do owe an explanation as to why I reverted to non-vegetarian diet because many of my closest friends still don't know. I converted to vegetarian diet mainly because of health reasons. And for the same health reasons I've converted back to non-vegetarian. My being vegetarian did help me a lot. It helped me to control my cravings for chicken and fish. I used to only...

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An excerpt from Angels & Demons

An excerpt from Dan Brown's Angels & Demons: As Langdon moved toward the first recess, he passed the tomb of one of Italy's Catholic kings. The sarcophagus, like many in Rome, was askew with the wall, positioned awkwardly. A group of visitors seemed confused by this. Langdon did not stop to explain. Formal Christian tombs were often misaligned with the architecture so they could lie facing east. It was an ancient superstition that Langdon's Symbology 212 class had discussed just last month. "That's totally incongruous!" a female...

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A Tribute to NUS...

Wow... I never thought this day would come this fast! On 10th July 2010, Saturday, at 10am in NUS UCC was my Commencement Ceremony. I am now officially graduated from NUS, with a Bachelors Degree in Life Sciences, Pass with merit. So I guess its the end of the journey? Apparently not, according to a lot of people. It is the commencement of a new chapter in your life.  But I see it as an end to my joyful days in life. Friends have all scattered off and gone in different directions, becoming busy in their own lives. Have to get a job, have to get a house, have to get married, etc, etc... Life moves on, in different directions...

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Ballerina is spinning..... which way?

  If you see the girl turning clockwise, your right hemisphere dominates: So if this is you, then you are highly creative, you use your imagination, feelings and perception of space, you are sensitive to symbols and images, you enjoy exploring the future and thinking philosophically… If you see the girl turning anti clockwise, you use your left hemisphere:And if this is you, then you are a logical thinker, you rely on realism, words and language. you are attracted by maths and science, knowledge, and specifics... If you manage...

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Addicted to the Internet + Tyra Show Link

I usually wonder sometimes if I am addicted to the internet. I seem to be spending a lot of time sitting glued to the laptop than go out and have some good time elsewhere. But for the whole of the weekend, I didn't sit glued to my laptop all the time. Some times I do get out of my room and do something else at home. But still when I get back to my room, the first thing I do is on my laptop. Not only then, the first thing I do when I wake up every morning is to on my laptop. It has become like an automated habit of mine, just like brushing your teeth and showering in the morning. I am also happy whenever I come online, after...

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Raavanan below par?

It is amazing that films like Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya, Ayirathil Oruvan, Raavanan, etc. never make it above par in any part of India. Exactly what is wrong with such films? Yes, its true that when you first watch these films, you go like, 'what the..?' But when you think deeper of it, many new attempts have been made in various aspects of movie-making. The imagination, the art, the screenplay, the cinematography, and so on. Many attempts are being made to improve Tamil Film Industry and its decomposing standards.  But the story...

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Just feeling like...

... I want to become nothing... go into nothingness... I don't want to feel anything... I don't want to think anything... I don't want to know anything... I don't want to do anything!  I wish I could just jump down and drown in my own world, in my own dreams, and never come back to reality. It sucks!  Thank God I have a little fear for heights. Thank God there is no river nearby my house. Otherwise, I would have jumped down into any one of them, whenever I think about nothing in life giving you the happiness you need...  I know I am not the only one who's feeling this. I wouldn't even be feeling like this,...

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Raavanan? :)

I might just have sat down in front of this laptop, wanting to write a post on the new movie Raavanan which I watched yesterday. But then, I found that there is no point to say something that has already been told by others! :) I found the cinematography wonderful! Music was awesome! Vikram stole the show! Aish was lovely! Period...

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Wish You A Very...

I feel so so so so so so so lucky that I am born and have been brought up in this way, with great friends around me... I hope it would last for a little longer :) I just don't know how to express my gratitude. But I know that the only way to express this gratitude is by making others I love feel lucky that they have me around.  ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR MOM...

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Fake Swamis and Cults

This is a random podcast, made in Tamil, but I thought this fit well in this heading of Clearing The Clouds, so I am posting it here, instead of under the Random section that I am yet to create. This podcast discusses about fake swamis and cults, deriving the topic from a recent Neeya Naana episode on a similar topic.  Download link is here (Right Click and Save Target As). This is the link if you wish to watch the Neeya Naana episode: www.thamil.org/tv_shows/?m=view&vid=21346  The two links mentioned in the podcast...

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यह प्यार एक ऐसा जस्बात है  जिस से रिश्तों का मौथाज बन न पडता  ...

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Unpaid labour

As I am writing this post, I am making a mental note to inform you that I am a liberal feminist, and therefore believe that the notion of gender is a socially constructed one. I believe that men and women are equal but have been constructed mentally to believe that men are stronger, smarter than women or that women are more sensitive, emotional than men. If this were absolutely true, then there would be no exceptions to this rule, and yet there are. So having said my point, now I will come to the matter that has been bugging me. Well, not really bugging me but I've been thinking about it. It seemed really unfair when I came...

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Random...

I don't make it a point to comment about movies extensively. Neither am I going to do this for this post. But I just want to say something here. Please go watch Neninthe telugu movie on youtube, which comes with subtitles in english. It is a movie about cinema. It actually made me re-think my pre-conceived notions I had on cinema. A good movie overall. On the side note, I can't wait to go to my new house!! :) Sigh....

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एहसास

इतने पास फिर भी इतनी दूर इतना स्पष्ट फिर भी इतना कलंक कैसे बताऊँ मैंइस एहसास का मतलब? ऐसा चमत्कार मेरे ज़िन्दगी में आया मेरे मन का अँधेरा को साफ़ कियाअरे मोरा कान्हा!सिर्फ आप है इसके कारण! हे गोविंदा!हे कृष्णा! हे केशवा!आपकी आशीर्वाद सदैव हम सब पर रहे! ...

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Heer Ranjha

The song Ranjha Ranjha has really fascinated me. I was wondering what the name 'Ranjha' meant and did a small google search. I also found its roots in a Punjabi classical song. Just listen to this:      Get this widget |     Track details  |         eSnips Social DNA    The first two lines are the same from the song in Raavan. Fascinating isn't it? Also the story of Heer and Ranjha is a famous one in Punjab! Once again, it is a famous love story just like all the Romeo-Juliet, Laila-Majnu kinda stories we have heard so far: "Heer...

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Water from heavens above

Waves of water splashed onto meBut I didn't feel a thing at all'Cos there was a glass between meAnd the water from heavens above A child separated from the motherA lover separated from the belovedA friend separated from the dear oneSuch was my stateIn the event of the downpour ~Priy...

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Talking to myself

I've tried imagining a world without all those man-made things. I realized simply how many things man has made up! That is a lot of things you know! Just imagine... Whatever is left behind that is not man-made would be the Earth with its trees, plants, and all other living organisms, and finally the humans who are just part of the 'other living organisms'. What is it that separates the humans from the rest of the things that are not man-made are those that are man-made; meaning the things that came out of man; out of his mind. And if you further reduce the entire universe into its basic constituents, you end up with the five...

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The making of a graduate

Life seems to be free and open from where I stand now. I have completed my university education and I'm not thinking of what to do in life next. Of course, I have to go and find a job and start working. I will do just that. But I've come to realize that research is not something that I would want to do for the rest of my life. I have other interests to pursue. With God's blessings, I hope I will be able to achieve what I set out for.  I wouldn't say that the struggle for life begins now that I have graduated. Instead, I see my whole life ahead of me, inviting me with open hands, for me to go and achieve whatever I...

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That I am

I am not a daughter. I have never been one. I am not a woman. I have never been one. I am not a human. I have never been one. I am not my thoughts I am not my feelings I am not my memories Neither am I my mind I am not my values I am not my opinions I am not morality personified Neither of these I am. Who, then, am I? I am birthless. I am immortal. I am infinity. That I am. I am existence. I am consciousness. I am bliss. That I a...

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Random...

Hi everyone! I'm posting after a long long time! Nope! I've not forgotten my child, that is my blog... :) I wanted to start this new chapter in my life, cos I'll be graduating soon from NUS, with an article review. Basically, I'm just gonna respond to an article I came across, which hurt me a little. You can read it here. This article, in summary, is written by an Indian Poly student. He is not happy with the increasing influx of foreigners, especially Indians from India. The following are the reasons he quotes, and my responses along with them: 1) Many Singaporean students felt they were being denied the chance to be the...

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Teacher or The Teaching?

This is all I want to tell to all those people there still trapped in the 'Nithy' trap... When you are on the path of seeking the Truth, because you have become fed up of your life, then you will be desperate enough to follow someone and anyone to attain your goal. But in that journey, you get so attached to the "teacher" and not his/her "teaching"! That is the mistake people make... All these new age cults, if you notice, they are very teacher-centered. Examples include Isha, Shri Shri Ravishankar, whoever else, you name it! I agree that these people are doing good, doing charity, teaching meditation... But would you only...

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Something something...

If you see that someone's behaviour has drastically changed for the past few months, you can just conclude that the person is seeing someone. Behaviours like frequent disappearances, not joining his/her friends for lunch/dinner like usually he/she does, weekends have suddenly become busy, skipping lectures (sometimes), etc. When you finally see that person with that someone, and that too frequently, then you can confirm for sur...

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Is there an eternal heaven?

Hi guys... I have written a post in my other blog on whether there is such a thing as absolute evil. Do please read it :) In this post, I am going to negate the concept of the eternal heaven or paradise.  Take note of the term "eternal heaven". I am not saying that heaven does not exist. Neither am I saying that heaven does exist. The existence of heaven is just a belief that a lot of people have, which cannot be confirmed unless we are dead. Provided that we have done enough good to even "see heaven". I am referring to the concept of an heaven which is eternal. Meaning permanent. Is there such a thing as eternal heaven? What...

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...

I miss D. I miss P. I miss M. Why are all my loved ones far away from me this sem? :...

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Why there is nothing different between a man and a woman...

There is an issue for which we don't give much thought to and we just carry on with our lives. That issue is gender. Just look around you. Everything is gendered. Starting from names, toilets, clothes, accessories, to behaviours, practices, and code of conduct. Movies exhibit these gender differences very well, and the media has been a major contributing factor for instilling notions of maleness or femaleness in our minds. Take an example of going out on a date with a guy/girl. Girls usually dress up for the guys. Guys open doors for the girls and pull out the chairs for them to sit. Guys pay for the dinner. A very typical...

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Interesting Neeya Naana episode...

This episode of Neeya Naana, although it is quite old, is really amazing! I am very impressed at the views expressed by the youngsters today. Do go to Youtube.com and watch the entire episode, while I am only embedding the 1st part of the show here: I think it is the 5th part of this episode videos,in which the topic about thaali (the sacred thread) comes about. Many of the males in the opposition side bravely raised their hands and said that they will not tie thaali in their marriage ritual! I am simply amazed! And not to mention these people are from "staunch" countries like Madurai, Dindukkal, etc., where the tradition...

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Happiness expires in....

I don't understand why people still hanker after happiness, one after another, even though they know that it will not last forever... Everything in this world seems to have  an expiration date stamped on it; "Gives happiness till xx-xx-xxxx"! I'm so sick and tired of running after something, hoping I will be happy after I get it, and then the next day, realising that the thing has changed or I have changed....

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Tough choice.... Feeling down...

Sigh... Now I have to drop my MNO1001 Management and Organisation module so that I can take LAH2201 Hindi 2... I really wanted both the modules, but they are clashing, so I had to choose one. I chose Hindi, although I wanted MNO1001 since my first year. I oddly feel so lonely nowadays... It has been ages since I've gone out with my friends. Why am I feeling like this? Not only that, but I also feel I have no friends who understand me fully. I am not saying that they have not been good friends. But just that I want to have a friend who understands me better than anyone else. Someone with whom I can relate to very well, and...

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I got all my modules!!

Ahh... I'm so happy today. My presentation in Hinduism class went well :) My group was the first one to go, thank God! And so we finished it off. I was alright despite the fact that we only prepared on the day itself. I didn't stammer this time, and my friend said I did well... I can't believe it, but I am happy nonetheless. Amongst all this tension, I did not check my bidding status for my modules. I bid only in the morning at 9am. I put 1200 points for MNO1001 Management and Organisation, and 840 points for SC2220 Gender Studies....

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Layout..

Now, I am completely satisfied with the way my blog looks... :)Hope I won't change it till next year... Haha...

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Arrrrggghhhhhh!! I want a nice layout for my blog.... Why do I get so bored of whatever layout I put up?? I know what I am looking for, now why can't I find it!!! This layout is not working for me... :( Sorry ppl, I'm gonna keep changing the layout, bear with me.... This one stinks... The links above don't even work.. ...

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What will you do?

What will you do if someone thinks bad of you even when you only meant good?What will you do if someone thinks you are faking a smile, when you smiled sincerely from your heart?What will you do if someone thinks you are a trickster, when you are only being friendly with the...

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Kai Kodutha Deivam (The God who helped)

Something amazing happened today... Although things went bad in the lab today, help came to me at the right time. I still can't believe it.It was 8pm and I was still in my lab. My autoclave all went wrong so everything got delayed, but I wasn't panicking. I was cool. After my autoclave was done, I had to immediately do inoculation. But before that, I had to check the machine in which I'm going to put the flasks in. I checked and I found that most of the racks were already in use, although I booked the machine. I was irritated at that point of time. But there was still some space. Just when I thought, okay thank God, there...

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