After a certain age my accruement of friends has diminished quite considerably. It has infact become zero. The height was probably in college where friends were being added to the phone list left and right and top and bottom. The phone book overflowing with numbers that included drinking buddies, smoking buddies, tennis buddies, bar hopping buddies, foodies, music buddies, running buddies; class buddy, homework buddy; any and everybody who I came in touch would be a buddy at some point.
But now I almost have like a filtering process that seem to weed out all of them. I am not including people I know through work in the friends list. One drinks too much, One does not drink at all, one is all talk, the other no talk, one is too cool, other not cool enough, one is single, the other is too married. In the end I think the criteria is mostly some one who can simulate conversation and find holes in my thought or add to it.
It kind of reminds of "lead follow or get the hell out of my way". My friends should be able to add to my life and in return can expect the same. I think this where addition of two similar numbers yield greater than the sum of the too. Or in terms of physics where bidirectional flow of current between two points at similar potential. OK that got a little to scientificial.
Monday, June 18, 2007
The lost art of listening
What is conversation?
Is it mere exchange of data or information with added non-verbal personal biases.
A lot of times when I was younger I would just wait for a pause in the conversation to add my 2 cents. Turns out that is what my thoughts were worth if not less.
Now being a smidgen older and hopefully wiser; conversation means response to previously received aural simulations and information. It does however irk me when I have responded to the comments and the speaker has intentionally or unintentionally ignored the said comments and still stuck to their original vein of thought. This drives me to be tacit and detached from anything further. Since I really don't have anything to say to the hearer (not listener).
I am aware that I am occasionally guilty of doing the same either due to my excitement blocking my ears or plainly that the other party's response is so off the hook that it did not warrant a response.
Is it mere exchange of data or information with added non-verbal personal biases.
A lot of times when I was younger I would just wait for a pause in the conversation to add my 2 cents. Turns out that is what my thoughts were worth if not less.
Now being a smidgen older and hopefully wiser; conversation means response to previously received aural simulations and information. It does however irk me when I have responded to the comments and the speaker has intentionally or unintentionally ignored the said comments and still stuck to their original vein of thought. This drives me to be tacit and detached from anything further. Since I really don't have anything to say to the hearer (not listener).
I am aware that I am occasionally guilty of doing the same either due to my excitement blocking my ears or plainly that the other party's response is so off the hook that it did not warrant a response.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Bio engine - incomplete
The auditorium was not full to the capacity. If the presenter did not have the content of the material on his mind he might have felt a little dissappointment at the turn out. He was anxious to please and be applauded for his work. The audience was mixed. A few well known older faces now trying to get back into popularity after the initial triumph sitting with other newer eager to absorb everything news reporters. The expressions ranged from increduluous to disbelief.
"If only I had a penny for every wise guy who thought he had the solution to worlds energy problems I would have been better off than now" thought Tom Bilman. He had been coerced to covering the lecture of professor Ivanoski, the part russian, throrough scientician. Ivan was studied under great names often in their shadows, little meek by nature but persistant. Whenever he had disagreeable insight he would mention it but not come off as strongly as the issue demanded.
Tim and Ivan met at a conference bar where Ivan was nursing a skyy and gin.
"Belvedere shot please" Tim said to thge bartender as he slid into the bar stool a couple of feet away from Ivan.
" we are out of belvedere , how does grey goose sound?"
" Does not sound as good, but it will have to do for now today"
"Try absolute instead, you wont regret it " ...................................................................
" I give you the bio-engine" thundered the voice of Ivan as he unveiled the velvet curtain and showing the chamber enclosed in a glass chamber.
"The principle is very similar to a horse, the horse eats grass/hay and get energy. The horse can now pull a cart or provide transportation or draw water from a rotating well." However the horse needs to be fed even if there is no work to be done just to maintain the horse. An IC engine is an on demand power source. but as the fuel costs have risen beyond the reach of the average man and EPA is constantly driving the pollution requirement to the frustration of the big three."
"The basic element of the bioengine is the nano-organism. The nano organism is a tiny living microbe which has a unfed life of atleast hundred years. WHich means if there is no "food" even after 100 years if it is fed for a day it will survive for 100 more years. The "food" it "eats" could range from traditional fuels to pizza or even chicken curry. The NORG consumes the food and produces electricity. Depending on the pressure and temperature conditions the output varies but the lab tests and the prototype we see here can produce 2 hp almost continuously making it the lightest cleanest power source." Ivan started speaking evenly and he progressed into the speed his excitement of sharing the discovery raised the tempo of his voice like a symphony. He sounded like a kid who newly discovered shells by the shore and sharing his findings with fellow playmates.
"If only I had a penny for every wise guy who thought he had the solution to worlds energy problems I would have been better off than now" thought Tom Bilman. He had been coerced to covering the lecture of professor Ivanoski, the part russian, throrough scientician. Ivan was studied under great names often in their shadows, little meek by nature but persistant. Whenever he had disagreeable insight he would mention it but not come off as strongly as the issue demanded.
Tim and Ivan met at a conference bar where Ivan was nursing a skyy and gin.
"Belvedere shot please" Tim said to thge bartender as he slid into the bar stool a couple of feet away from Ivan.
" we are out of belvedere , how does grey goose sound?"
" Does not sound as good, but it will have to do for now today"
"Try absolute instead, you wont regret it " ...................................................................
" I give you the bio-engine" thundered the voice of Ivan as he unveiled the velvet curtain and showing the chamber enclosed in a glass chamber.
"The principle is very similar to a horse, the horse eats grass/hay and get energy. The horse can now pull a cart or provide transportation or draw water from a rotating well." However the horse needs to be fed even if there is no work to be done just to maintain the horse. An IC engine is an on demand power source. but as the fuel costs have risen beyond the reach of the average man and EPA is constantly driving the pollution requirement to the frustration of the big three."
"The basic element of the bioengine is the nano-organism. The nano organism is a tiny living microbe which has a unfed life of atleast hundred years. WHich means if there is no "food" even after 100 years if it is fed for a day it will survive for 100 more years. The "food" it "eats" could range from traditional fuels to pizza or even chicken curry. The NORG consumes the food and produces electricity. Depending on the pressure and temperature conditions the output varies but the lab tests and the prototype we see here can produce 2 hp almost continuously making it the lightest cleanest power source." Ivan started speaking evenly and he progressed into the speed his excitement of sharing the discovery raised the tempo of his voice like a symphony. He sounded like a kid who newly discovered shells by the shore and sharing his findings with fellow playmates.
Curious Kitten
It is raining kittens and puppies, my other half said as she handed over a samosa with chutney. We havent unanimously decided who is the better one yet.
My arched brows of suprise gave away my inability to get her weird sense of humor. She sighed a good sigh (what's a good sigh anyway) and explained that it was something between a drizzle and a downpour. Aah I exclaimed nodding my head meanwhile blissfully returned my attention to the half bitten steaming samosa. When the weather gets gloomy my lady gets the blues, so in anticipation I had picked up samosas to lighten up her mood. food for mood as she called it.
With my pampered behind parked in the confines of a wailing recliner my calls for water were unanswered. All I heard was a slight hint of giggle followed by a hearty laugh. Being the Sherlock holmes without the talent nor affinity for cigars I peeped into the kitchen to see her slouched over the counter reading something. My stealth entrance with the bond music brought her back and I noticed her samosa still untouched beside the wrapped paper which she was reading intently. With my musical entrance she turned around and asked me 'How old do you have to be to use humoungosity in a sentence'. A slight bell rang mutedly in the remote corner of my brain as the electric pulses rushed to retrieve a memory when I first invented the word. I was about to reply when she started reading the passage "Working wife vs house wife - the debate continues". I rushed to literally snatch the paper out of her hands and a familiar handwriting a nostalgia brought on a rush much like meeting an old friend unexpectedly. Yes it was an essay written by yours truly decades ago. The raddi wala I shouted , must have sold this to the mithaiwala where I bought the samosas. Mystery solved I declared as I returned my attention to the other samosa on the counter which I was sure was feeling neglected.
Not so fast Mr cutie pants I want to read the rest of it. A mental alarm rang louder this time. My panic system works better than the logical side of my brain. Please make you wonderful chai to go with this samosa I pleaded and madee what I thought was a cute face with a smitten smile. She relented and said this is not over you know. I have been married long enough to know that I thought in my head sighed mentally knowing that within next ten minutes my memory cells would have to work overtime with my creative juices to alevate the next round.
My arched brows of suprise gave away my inability to get her weird sense of humor. She sighed a good sigh (what's a good sigh anyway) and explained that it was something between a drizzle and a downpour. Aah I exclaimed nodding my head meanwhile blissfully returned my attention to the half bitten steaming samosa. When the weather gets gloomy my lady gets the blues, so in anticipation I had picked up samosas to lighten up her mood. food for mood as she called it.
With my pampered behind parked in the confines of a wailing recliner my calls for water were unanswered. All I heard was a slight hint of giggle followed by a hearty laugh. Being the Sherlock holmes without the talent nor affinity for cigars I peeped into the kitchen to see her slouched over the counter reading something. My stealth entrance with the bond music brought her back and I noticed her samosa still untouched beside the wrapped paper which she was reading intently. With my musical entrance she turned around and asked me 'How old do you have to be to use humoungosity in a sentence'. A slight bell rang mutedly in the remote corner of my brain as the electric pulses rushed to retrieve a memory when I first invented the word. I was about to reply when she started reading the passage "Working wife vs house wife - the debate continues". I rushed to literally snatch the paper out of her hands and a familiar handwriting a nostalgia brought on a rush much like meeting an old friend unexpectedly. Yes it was an essay written by yours truly decades ago. The raddi wala I shouted , must have sold this to the mithaiwala where I bought the samosas. Mystery solved I declared as I returned my attention to the other samosa on the counter which I was sure was feeling neglected.
Not so fast Mr cutie pants I want to read the rest of it. A mental alarm rang louder this time. My panic system works better than the logical side of my brain. Please make you wonderful chai to go with this samosa I pleaded and madee what I thought was a cute face with a smitten smile. She relented and said this is not over you know. I have been married long enough to know that I thought in my head sighed mentally knowing that within next ten minutes my memory cells would have to work overtime with my creative juices to alevate the next round.
Logic
Digital logic ie on/off or 1/0 or yes/no.
Why do I constantly get asked about when I am to give them the good new of me having a baby.
About how it is really getting late and all.
If I am stupid then I should not be really having a baby since it is not going to great from the kids standpoint of having stupid parents.
And If I am smart should'nt I be able to make that decision myself?
I am either stupid or smart and in either case any external input is not the major force in teh decision making
Unfortunately unlike most computers life is analog and fuzzy and sometimes people with better experiences and perpectives can provide useful input
Why do I constantly get asked about when I am to give them the good new of me having a baby.
About how it is really getting late and all.
If I am stupid then I should not be really having a baby since it is not going to great from the kids standpoint of having stupid parents.
And If I am smart should'nt I be able to make that decision myself?
I am either stupid or smart and in either case any external input is not the major force in teh decision making
Unfortunately unlike most computers life is analog and fuzzy and sometimes people with better experiences and perpectives can provide useful input
Money Talks
I found an incredible deal on a consumer item and was boasting about it to my friend, Mani (money).
"You know I got the additional discount for blah blah and used the coupon from the website blah etc" and was feeling extremely smart since he bought the same thing for more. A third person intruded the conversation and said he bought it in another country for half the price I mentioned. I thought what a cheap skate. Now I think I understand hypocrisy a little better.
My friends are always quoting best prices and where to buy. But do not make the mistake of telling them about a deal. They would inevitably argue, one up you by saying they could get a better deal on another website or catalog. That claim cannot be verified and all the arguing wears me down and makes me thirsty for a strong drink or hungry for a snack.
What is it about saving a penny that gives a rush? The hourly rate that most of my friends' companies charge for their services is enormous. So in the time that any of them explains how they saved a penny or the time they actually spent saving the penny had they worked and billed their time they could have earned thousand times the penny he saved.
Saving money is good, and important. It gives options in case of emergency and more things to buy for comfort or luxury or finance interesting hobbies.
Mathematically
saving = earning - spending
To increase saving one could either decrease spending by finding a great deal during a sale or work longer and earn more. Or a third option is not to spend at all.
It really irks me when people constantly tell me that I overspent on buying certain items. If I wanted something I would do a preliminary search and pay the best price and purchase the item. I am not oppossed to saving money. I am just not obsessed with saving. The same people who advise me on penny saving could spend gazillion on jewelry or housing or electronics that is not really needed.
That brings up another dimension - what is needed? Do I really need a 4000 sq ft home or three motorcycles or four computers or full size pickup? not really. Being an engineer I am constantly asked to optimize various parameters most often it is the cost. Reduce the cost is the constant mantra. But at the same time people pay for things they really want. i.e. supply demand thingie.
Is diamond really worth so much? It is just a stone really.
The next time anybody starts talking about saving money I am going to start charging them for listening. Hey if the hot ladies late at night charge five dollars per minute I think I should in the ball park too. I could also give volume discounts or free minutes too. That way if anybody is talking to me they better have something worthwhile.
If you really want to save money ask me and I could help you. You may not like my ideas or agree with them but I can guarantee you you will save some money.
"You know I got the additional discount for blah blah and used the coupon from the website blah etc" and was feeling extremely smart since he bought the same thing for more. A third person intruded the conversation and said he bought it in another country for half the price I mentioned. I thought what a cheap skate. Now I think I understand hypocrisy a little better.
My friends are always quoting best prices and where to buy. But do not make the mistake of telling them about a deal. They would inevitably argue, one up you by saying they could get a better deal on another website or catalog. That claim cannot be verified and all the arguing wears me down and makes me thirsty for a strong drink or hungry for a snack.
What is it about saving a penny that gives a rush? The hourly rate that most of my friends' companies charge for their services is enormous. So in the time that any of them explains how they saved a penny or the time they actually spent saving the penny had they worked and billed their time they could have earned thousand times the penny he saved.
Saving money is good, and important. It gives options in case of emergency and more things to buy for comfort or luxury or finance interesting hobbies.
Mathematically
saving = earning - spending
To increase saving one could either decrease spending by finding a great deal during a sale or work longer and earn more. Or a third option is not to spend at all.
It really irks me when people constantly tell me that I overspent on buying certain items. If I wanted something I would do a preliminary search and pay the best price and purchase the item. I am not oppossed to saving money. I am just not obsessed with saving. The same people who advise me on penny saving could spend gazillion on jewelry or housing or electronics that is not really needed.
That brings up another dimension - what is needed? Do I really need a 4000 sq ft home or three motorcycles or four computers or full size pickup? not really. Being an engineer I am constantly asked to optimize various parameters most often it is the cost. Reduce the cost is the constant mantra. But at the same time people pay for things they really want. i.e. supply demand thingie.
Is diamond really worth so much? It is just a stone really.
The next time anybody starts talking about saving money I am going to start charging them for listening. Hey if the hot ladies late at night charge five dollars per minute I think I should in the ball park too. I could also give volume discounts or free minutes too. That way if anybody is talking to me they better have something worthwhile.
If you really want to save money ask me and I could help you. You may not like my ideas or agree with them but I can guarantee you you will save some money.
Reasoning
Why is it that words are just as important as the person saying it.
I said I like your hair and just get a nod and the same thing uttered by your crush sends you to seventh or eight heaven. I stopped counting after five.
When my parents asked me about movie they just receive a grunt but when she asked me I had to be stopped talking about it.
What is it about love and hate that makes the world go on the perimeter of a constant radius objects?
I like the way you smile it lightens my mind brightens my day
I hate your whine it damps my spark clamps my thought
Does logic and love go together? More on this coming
I said I like your hair and just get a nod and the same thing uttered by your crush sends you to seventh or eight heaven. I stopped counting after five.
When my parents asked me about movie they just receive a grunt but when she asked me I had to be stopped talking about it.
What is it about love and hate that makes the world go on the perimeter of a constant radius objects?
I like the way you smile it lightens my mind brightens my day
I hate your whine it damps my spark clamps my thought
Does logic and love go together? More on this coming
Thieving thieves
Stolen again. Of late this has been frequently occurring. My bank balance had a few million and at the end of the day I spent all of it. Some of the spending was well worth it. There were a few items that were bare essentials. It must have been the genes inherited from my maternal side that is responsible for all the unwanted spending. The television stole many of my hours or is it my laziness that is responsible. Ultimately it was my loss.
What would Ramu do?
The monthly inspection of the belly necessitated a visit to the trail.
OK more so from the insistance of the better half. We decided right at the beginning of our marriage who the better half was. The trail had seen us a lot more during the early spring when the temperature was above freezing with sunshine brought out a 1000 watt smile on my ladys lips. As I try to distract myself with counting down the seconds when I will be back in my lazy boy with a cold one, familiar faces smile back on their return from the two mile mark. Some faces were familiar but still unsmiling. Giving them the benefit of doubt I am assuming they are counting down seconds like me too or probably thinking about the dessert they can eat after the run. There were a few others in a third category trying to impress the visiting mother inlaw!!
Then at the half mile marker it stood out of the scenery. In the weeds and the wooded trees surving the bunny rabbits and the swallows a red tulip. As I ran past it I wanted to play the Romeo and pluck it and give it to my lady friend who was running with me. I kept thinking about it all the way to the mile marker. As I turned around it seemed too corny and I wondered what would Ramu would have done. As I ran past it the second time the tulip waved to me as if saving "thank you for not plucking me so that few more runners can enjoy the red tulip.
OK more so from the insistance of the better half. We decided right at the beginning of our marriage who the better half was. The trail had seen us a lot more during the early spring when the temperature was above freezing with sunshine brought out a 1000 watt smile on my ladys lips. As I try to distract myself with counting down the seconds when I will be back in my lazy boy with a cold one, familiar faces smile back on their return from the two mile mark. Some faces were familiar but still unsmiling. Giving them the benefit of doubt I am assuming they are counting down seconds like me too or probably thinking about the dessert they can eat after the run. There were a few others in a third category trying to impress the visiting mother inlaw!!
Then at the half mile marker it stood out of the scenery. In the weeds and the wooded trees surving the bunny rabbits and the swallows a red tulip. As I ran past it I wanted to play the Romeo and pluck it and give it to my lady friend who was running with me. I kept thinking about it all the way to the mile marker. As I turned around it seemed too corny and I wondered what would Ramu would have done. As I ran past it the second time the tulip waved to me as if saving "thank you for not plucking me so that few more runners can enjoy the red tulip.
Time Money effort
What is the time value of money
i.e to save x$ how much time would you spend
or to save x hours how much would you spend
and so on
i.e to save x$ how much time would you spend
or to save x hours how much would you spend
and so on
what difference does it make?
shall I make coffee? she asks
I thought the question was if I wanted coffee,
who makes it was a different question dependent on whether I wanted coffee or not
In the interest of coffee I nodded and said yes
I thought the question was if I wanted coffee,
who makes it was a different question dependent on whether I wanted coffee or not
In the interest of coffee I nodded and said yes
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