Angels + Demons + Dan Brown = Zero Style

I just finished reading Dan Brown’s ‘Angels and Demons’. What motivated me to read this book is quite obvious: ‘The Da Vinci Code’ made an interesting read and the fact that every single person around you seems to be reading ‘angels and demons’ these days.
Personally I did not enjoy this read. ‘Angels and Demons’ seems like a first crude draft of a book. It is an excellent example of shoddy character development and narration skills coupled with total lack of style. It was the first time I ‘felt a tempest of emotions in my blood’ after reading the book. Such pretentious expressions!
It also seems that Dan Brown has this very standard template for his books, they all start, develop and end in the same way. Symbology is what keeps you turning the pages but if you are one of those people who feel there is more to a book than a basic story, don’t waste your time on 'Angels and Demons'.

Satanic Verses

'Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie, one of the most controversial books around, earned a 'fatwa' for the Booker Prize winner!
I have read 2 of the books by Salman Rushdie in the past. I have throughout admired his style.. poetic.. liberal .. figurative. Of all the books, this is one book by him that I would love to read. Call it the tendency of Singapore libraries to stay away from controversial titles or my own laziness to go all out to search the book, I have not been able to lay my hands on it yet.
Well! On the brighter side, I have found a study guide to this book. Yeah, a guide to the book before actually reading the book! Whatever.

PS. I still don't understand how old men like Salman Rushdie get to date/marry supermodels like Padmalakshmi who are a couple of inches taller than them. Weird!

More on Relativity - General Theory of Relativity

The most fascinating thing about Einstein's relativity theories is the fact that it disproved the popular notion about the constant shape of universe and linear & constant flow of time. Simply phenomenal! In 1916, Einstein extended his 'Special theory of Relativity' to incorporate the effects of gravity on the shape of universe and flow of time.
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The Special Theory of relativity (1905) modified the equations used in comparing the measurements made by differently moving bodies, in view of the constant value of the speed of light, i.e. its observed invariance in reference frames moving uniformly relative to each other. This had the consequence that physics could no longer treat space and time separately, but only as a single four-dimensional system, "space-time," which was divided into "time-like" and "space-like" directions differently depending on the observer's motion. The general theory added to this that the presence of matter "warped" the local space-time environment, so that apparently "straight" lines through space and time have the properties of "curved" lines.
On May 29, 1919, observations by Arthur Eddington of shifted star positions during a solar eclipse confirmed the theory.
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Resource

Theory of Relativity

Theory of relativity has intrigued everyone for decades. Even to understand the theory is an arduous task. Though I have not really studied it myself, I have been awed by the impact it has had on Physics.
This morning my friend engaged me in a one-sided discussion about it. My ignorance propelled me and I just HAD to find out more about it. So here I go!
The 'Special theory of Relativity' was proposed by Einstein in 1905. This was called the 'special' theory of relativity because it considers the case where the effects of the graviation can be ignored.

Postulates of special relativity
1. First postulate
Observation of physical phenomena by more than one inertial observer must result in agreement between the observers as to the nature of reality. Or, the nature of the universe must not change for an observer if their inertial state changes.
Every physical theory should look the same mathematically to every inertial observer.
2. Second postulate
The speed of light in vacuum, commonly denoted c, is the same to all inertial observers, is the same in all directions, and does not depend on the velocity of the object emitting the light. This postulate has been verified experimentally. When combined with the First Postulate, this Second Postulate is equivalent to stating that light does not require any medium (such as "aether") in which to propagate.

Recource

Roller Coaster

What a week! The past two days have been like a roller coaster ride... fast, non stop, scary at times but fun! And the rest of the days had also been busy meeting other deadlines and preparing for the 'roller coaster' days.
Thursday:
Normal office routine + 3 hr Microsoft SgDotNet.Student Council meeting (=> no dinner)
Friday:
10 am to 6 pm - Organiser, Microsoft .Net CF Code camp @ NTU (included my ppt on client architecture too) (=> no breakfast)
Saturday:
8 am to 1 pm - Organiser, SIFE Synergy (=> no breakfast)
1 pm to 5:30 pm - Microsoft SgDotNet.Student UG meeting + CPU (central planning unit) meeting (=> no lunch)
7 to 11 pm - My sis B Day party (had to rush and buy a gift too)(=> food finally)
Add in 2 other parties that I missed because I cannot possibly replicate myself at all locations.

I am breathing now.

Heights of immaturity

Indian politics is anyway full of immature politicians who are merely interested in ( and capable of) playing 'party politics' rather than do something good to the nation. But this particular instance of a Parliament boycott by opposition is rather exasperating.
I believe that the left has as big a part to play in formulating the country policies as much as the right. The opposition needs to act as a watchdog, giving constructive criticism and supporting the correct decisions made by the goverment.
However, there is only one kind of opposition in India - oppose everything that the goverment does (even if they say 'sun rises from the east'). How much of the tax payers earnings can they throw in the drain by refusing to attend the ever costly paliament session? Can the Indian politicians rise above party politics and think of the nation? For once?

For the love of reading

I love reading! Reading anything .. books, blogs, newspaper, magazines, novels... I love the way these writings have the power to stimulate me and invoke so many emotions without me having to physically experience various situations. It is a wondeful activity that totally relaxes me.
On my friend's suggestion I thought I will maintain a list of the books I have read so far on my blog.. yeps! Right HERE:
1. Family matters - Rohinton Mistry
2. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
3. Sense and Sensiblity - Jane Austen
4. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Michelle
5. A suitable boy - Vikram Seth
6. An Equal Music - Vikram Seth
7. Anna Kerenin - Leo Tolstoy
8. The God of small things - Arundhati Roy
9. Midnight's children - Salman Rushdie
10. The ground beneath her feet - Salman Rushdie
11. The da vinci code - Dan Brown
12. Emma - Jane Austen
13. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
14. To Sir, with love - Edward Ricardo Braithwaite
15. Shakespear can wait - (cannot remember)
16. The memoires of a Geisha - Arthur S. Golden
17. The bondmaid - Catherine Lim
18. The house with 1000 lanterns - (cannot remember)
19. The story of my experiments with truth - M. K. Gandhi
20. Sophie's world - Jostein Gaarder
21. Men are from mars, women are from venus - John Gray
22. Dracula - Bram Stoker
23. The phantom of the opera - Gaston Leroux
24. Victoria Victorious - Jean Plaidy
25. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
26. Harry Potter The philosopher's stone - J. K. Rowling
27. Harry Potter Chamber of secrets - J. K. Rowling
28. Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling
29. Harry Potter Goblet of Fire - J. K. Rowling
30. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling
31. As you like it - William Shakepeare

.... This list will be updated further as and when I read a new book or remember the other books I have read.

Love Thyself

How many of us love themselves? Don't we compare and judge ourselves sercretly all the time.
Self love is acceptence of yourself as who you are and what are your capabilities and limitations...unconditionally. Marilyn Innerfield has described it as "A celebration of self in all moments. Self love is an experience of being, in which you realise the perfection of who you are!"
Self love provides you with self respect, self esteem and confidence in yourself. It wards away the insecurities and makes one more trusting. But remember, self love is not narcissism or egoism.
Oscar Wilde had once said that to love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance. People will still fear for the loss of what they have, unless they love themselves.

Lost way adventure

Yesterday I attended a real sidey show at Jurong Green community Club simply because my friends were performing there. Apart from the performance by my friends (which was pretty good) the rest was a lackluster and drab affair.
So finally I left the moment my friends' performance ended. We took a a bus back to Boon Lay. And after 20 minutes I noticed science park. Gosh, we boarded the bus from the wrong side and we were goin to land up in Bukit Merah instead. We got down near an ugly and abandoned place.
And then we both went crazy. We had no idea where we were! But we vaguely realised we are smwhere near Beuna Vista (looking at a 500m far INSEAD building!).. and so decided that we should walk down and have a dessert at Holland V.
And then we walked.. all the way from an unknown place.. following a path none of us was sure of. And voila, after walking for 2-3 Km, there we were at HV. So we had a lovely (and fattening *sigh*) mud pie (Jedi Monster) at NYDC (I am surely getting back there for a lovely main course soon too..) . A nice ending to an adventure that began as a lost way scenario. I like such weird and spontaneous stuff...when things go unplanned and lead to smthing really interesting. So for the next time, the plan is that there will be no plan!