#Uncertainty

I found the joys of the world of physics again , after a number of years. Kindled by a chance encounter of picking up a book : Uncertainty by David Lindley from Just Books.

I had always enjoyed the feel of something the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle : though never paid too much attention for the past many years (apart from the occasional reference in some real life situations) on what was that whole feeling about. As I dived into the book , it sort of rekindled my fascination with it : and how brilliant it was (is) and the radical change it brought about in Physics. 

Being a better student of history now , I could also appreciate the background of the political turmoil across Europe : especially the cultural upheaval in Germany. The towering status and influence of Einstein, the genius of Neils Bohr , the generations of new physicists who forced the radical change in the thought process.

Coupled with some new readings on how the true nature of reality, the different possible views on how the world can be viewed, constructed I now find a much deeper connection on the physics view of the world when compared to the philosophical view of the world.  More to think about and articulate as these mysteries become clearer in the coming days ......

On A Rainy Day

Whenever it rains, esp. heavily and in the morning (a rarity in Bangalore) , I get reminded of school and our Principal.  Most of used to cycle to school (pleasure of a small place) and depending on where you lived an average of 20-30 min (my guess now !).  Latecomers would line up at the side and if lucky would join the line unnoticed when we used to troop to the classrooms. Or let off with scolding at times.

But I remember clearly a few times when it would rain things would be different. One may have though a simple excuse of rain caused us get late would be acceptable.  A few times when I saw the principal who would come out to serve out the punishment. His argument (still etched in my mind) was imaging the army reaching somewhere with an excuse of rain. Not acceptable !

Simple message and maybe an impressionable age. But somehow that remain etched in my mind.  Come what may : honor time !!!!!!!!

Wembly with the Boss !!!!!

Though never on any list of mine, I finally managed to get to hear the Boss , Live at Wembley.

As it's suggested, when you badly want something, the universe conspires to make it happen. In my case for some reason (sheer luck)  I actually checked if Sprignsteen was actually still doing live shows, figured he was in UK in May / June. Then the second lucky break came , an office events dates got changed and brought forward (preponed as we would say !).

Then there was the small matter of getting the all important tickets. By the time I had checked , the show had been sold out (I guess many time overs :) !!!. Then begin the constant monitoring of StubHub . I finally bought the ticket on the 4th of June (the show was on the 5th !).

Bruce , the Boss , first played in London in 1975, Hammersmith Odeon. I find the opening of Thunder Road as possibly the best live performance of the song I have come across (esp. the  way he says 'you ain't no beauty but you are alright '!, I can imagine a cold dark November evening in London with the lovely piano piece filling in the night, haunting lyrics , still open for interpretition (town for losers and I am pulling out to win).

(more to come ...unfinished : and I am rejecting drafts for now !)

The World Cup and Chinnaswamy stadium

I have had the good fortune of being at all (I think all) matches hosted in Bangalore where India featured in the World Cups.

The fun affair started in 96 when it became clear that India would be playing Pakistan in the quarter finals. The hard work started when we queued up at 7:30 PM , the day prior to when the tickets were to be sold. More than 13 hours later, braving a few lathi charges and madness through the night we finally got our hands on the elusive tickets at 9:00 AM in the morning.

Great memories of the game. Miandad's last match , one of the greatest runner between wickets , caught short by Jadeja. Jadeja himself had the audacity to take on one of the greatest exponents of reverse swing and hammer Waqar for 40 in his last 2 overs (I thought the stadium would come down when Jadeja launched into him). The Prasad Sohail episode was one of a kind, the kind you watch cricket for (a bunch of boundaries by Sohail, Sohail taunting the bowler, who comes back to clean him up !). And it was the first game under lights, another surreal experience for sure !

The celebration (or the madness should I say) continued well into the night around MG Road. The high was matched only by the low of being knocked out in Eden a few days later :().

The WC returned in 2011. This time it was the game against England.  A run feast. A Tendulkar hundred (the jinx of the WC : Tendulkar got 2 hundreds and India failed to win both games, a tie with England and we lost against SA). A tie ! The WC was Sachin's final hurrah.  He was in vintage form , determined to conquer the cup which had remained out of his grasp all those years. Fortunate to be there !

Come 2016 and it was the game against Bangladesh and it was the shorter version of the shorter version of the game (T20). It was  one of those matches where you felt disappointed for 239 balls of the game and the thrill came only on the 240th ball when somehow magically Dhoni pulled a rabbit out of the hat and won the game for India with the run out (in hindsight , a tie may have been better : Dhoni wins WC's when there has been a tie ;)).

Not sure when the next World Cup game happens with India involved . I will be there !!!

Gaudi : the yesteryear Jobs (/ Ive)

We just returned from a week of roaming around in Europe, in which we covered Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris.

The highlight (of course ) in Barca was enjoying Gaudi's architecture. Though I had heard about it, you realise the overall importance and impact once you reach the city (I think it's easily the biggest tourism attraction for Barca). 

Being a keen follower of the Jobs / Ive philosophy (which has gained a lot of traction in recent years) around Design, it was interesting to see the parallels between the work and philosophy of Guadi and Jobs / Ive. 

For instance Gaudi started getting interested in designing furniture , which he felt needed to be a natural extension of the buildings he was building. Or the way Park Guell has been designed , keeping community living in mind, and blending with nature. The use of colours also has interesting parallels (though the reasons were different).

Though I don't know much about Eusebi Guell, likely that he was to Gaudi what Jobs was to Ive.

One could easily imagine Gaudi leading the Industrial Division within Apple had he lived today, or Ive architecting the buildings which Gaudi imagined close to 75 years ago !

Independence Day and the concept of Nations..

As I stood singing the National Anthem in Mantri and watching the guards do the routine of 'Attention, Standitees', thoughts wondered on how nations are sectarian in their fundamental nature.  Does the concept of a nation touch a raw animal instinct in all humans ? Or is something which has been nurtured and doctored in all of us through our growing years.

We end up celebrating that we invented zero (and not marveling the concept of zero), we are proud we produced the Vedanta 5000 years back, but sadly most of us have not read or understood it.  I guess is that if we had not had nations , that would not be the case.

My guess is that the need of identification is so important in humans. Bhagvad Gita talks about discovering ones' self, which over centuries few have managed (or claimed to have managed). Our beliefs, physical features, where we live etc have proved to an easy way to provide an identity.

Good time to remember and 'Imagine' ...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8

Till then Happy Independence Day ...

Chetan Bharat on JEE / IIT

This is in reference to Chetan Bhagat's article on the plans of changing JEE.

I do agree on Chetan's point that by taking into account the marks in the 12th standard, that too 50%, it will increase the stress level on the students than decreasing it. Also the way the practical exam marks are awarded, leaves a lot to be desired. I remember all those years back, if you did not take tut ions classes from the school teachers, you would have had to sacrifice a few marks (used to be 30 out of 100). The smart thing obviously was to take a few classes, just to ensure you hit the bulls eye. Also it would ensure the students would toil through the year ensure equal attention for class XII and what is arguably  the toughest entrance exam in the world. Expect stress to really shoot through the roof !

As far as the comment on excellence goes, I think IIT's have been very disappointing. No doubt they have the best faculty, the best students (thanks to JEE),  huge grants, and this deadly combination should have resulted in something special. (Would extend this to NIT's also).

Would be interesting to dig up data to see the connect (which seems to be there) with the industry and IIT's on developing latest technologies and in research (impact).