Author: drsriramnathan

What is the connection between a movie called Aakhree Raasta; Appu Raja and the Final Destination series!?

All are good entertaining movies no doubt! But think harder!

The first two movies are Tamil originals but that is not the link! The link is that all these and many more movies feature a scene in which you see a contraption which starts with a simple device like a marble or a ball and finally the end is either a big event!

That whole SCHEME of things is based on a machine!

The common factor in all these is the Rube Goldberg machine!

So a Rube Goldberg machine is an overly complex, convoluted contraption designed to perform a very simple task through a chain reaction of simple machines.

Named after the American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, these devices turn simple actions like wiping a face, turning a page, or ringing a bell into elaborate spectacles of physics and engineering!

A human triggers the first step with a small push, after which the machine runs entirely on its own.

Then starts the CHAIN REACTION! Each distinct component or step triggers the next using kinetic energy transfer (e.g., a rolling ball hitting dominoes)!

They usually combine simple machines and basic mechanical elements like levers, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, wedges, and wheels.

The materials usually used are the common household materials like Marbles and Balls which are Great for rolling down tracks and acting as shifting weights!

Then you can use Cardboard Tubes and Ramps; Dominos and Books and of course String and Pulleys!

Now while in the first two movies the Rube Goldberg is created by humans while in the Final Destination franchise, you have the Rube Goldberg machine based death which is called Rube Goldberg death!

In the movie you have a highly elaborate, chain-reaction sequences orchestrated by the unseen force of Death.

Instead of a traditional slasher villain, everyday objects and environments act as intricate, domino-effect traps that characters must navigate to avoid their predetermined fates!


These complex sequences are a hallmark of the movies, where a single minor disruption (a spilled drink, a breeze, or an electrical short) triggers a series of escalating events that ultimately result in a grisly fatality!

In fact the whole franchise is based on and has become popular because of he iconic Rube Goldberg Kills!


Anyone who has seen the franchise would stay away from the highway truck full of logs of wood whether he or she knows about Rube Goldberg or not!

It’s better if daya from CID investigates!

You sleep without fear of the Rube Goldberg! Just don’t keep any marbles around!

Shubh ratri!

Sometimes having too much SWEET can be injurious to health!

There is a chollu or saying in Malayalam; “അമിതമായാൽ അമൃതും വിഷം” (amitamāyāl amr̥tuṁ viṣaṁ) which roughly translates to  “when more, even nectar is poison”!

Did you know though there was a huge accident which involved a SWEET liquid which actually caused death and destruction!?

It was called the Great Molasses Flood of Boston!

It happened way back in 1919 when there were no industrial laws and guidelines!

A poorly constructed holding tank with liquid Molasses ruptured unleashing a massive, deadly wave of 2.3 million gallons of molasses down Commercial Street.

The collapsing 50-foot-tall steel tank created a sticky tsunami between 15 to 40 feet high and 160 feet wide!

Traveling at roughly 35 miles per hour, the wave leveled buildings, crushed wagons, damaged an elevated train line, and swept away pedestrians and horses!

The unseasonably warm weather initially allowed the heavy syrup to spread fast. As temperatures dropped that night, the fluid thickened into a viscous, suffocating trap that severely hindered rescue efforts!

Hundreds of emergency workers, volunteers, and military personnel used harbor saltwater and sand to strip the sticky residue from the streets. The cleanup lasted for weeks, and the waters of Boston Harbor remained brown until summer!

The tank was owned by the United States Industrial Alcohol Company (USIA) to ferment molasses into industrial alcohol for munitions.

Post-disaster investigations revealed severe engineering failures like Flawed Materials like how the steel walls were constructed too thin to handle a full load, and the steel lacked adequate manganese, rendering it dangerously brittle in cold weather!

The company also skipped testing the tank with water prior to full commercial use.

When residents complained about severe leaking from day one, the company simply painted the tank brown to conceal the dripping syrup!

Not to mention the fact that the project was managed by an accountant with no structural engineering experience!

USIA initially claimed that anarchist bombers caused the explosion.

However, a landmark 1925 court ruling held the company fully liable for structural negligence.

USIA was forced to pay $628,000 in damages (equivalent to over $10 million today) to victims and survivors!

The disaster fundamentally transformed industrial safety regulations across America.

It led to standard requirements for municipal building laws, mandated that certified architects and structural engineers sign and seal their calculation plans, and pushed US states to implement professional engineering licensing laws!

At least some good thing came out of that WAKE UP CALL!

So everything does not have to be sweet! Even if it’s your last match! Lionel Messi you will remain a GOAT!

Now that’s sweet!

Shubh ratri…

One of the most laziest player (for the ignorant!) is Messi!

Most of the times he walks! He does not run!

Which footballer does not run most of the times you would ask?

Well, only the best one in the world!

Apparently there is a whole science behind MESSI WALKS!

I love playing football but watching is another thing! Also running all the time is actually stupidity! You will get tired and well; retired!

Also for a self proclaimed nerd like me, football is literally out there!

But I love me the science of MESSI walk! This has been studied and it is simply amazing! That is the difference between cricket and football! In cricket you can have a thrill in every other ball but in football you have to wait so much to get that one ball in!

It is frustrating but that is what makes it apparently enjoyable to thos who watch it! Now since getting the BALL in or a GOAL is a rare phenomenon and the one which decides the fate; Messi is the GOAT because he puts science in the game! Of course he also has the skills!

So Lionel Messi spends roughly 47% to 63% of his matches walking or standing, making him one of the least active players in terms of distance covered, yet he remains incredibly decisive!

The Science and Strategy Behind the Walk is three fold!

Messi’s walking is not a sign of fatigue or lack of effort; it is a highly calculated tactical tool!

Tactical Mapping: During the first 10 minutes of a match, Messi surveys the pitch, building a mental map of where space is and how the opponent sets up defensively! You can see that most of his GOALS are in the later part of the game! He needs to map the field and then make his move!

Energy Conservation: By walking, he avoids unnecessary sprints and preserves explosive energy for game-deciding moments! He is like the Lion or tiger who simply WALKS for most of the time and then suddenly charges for the KILL!

Then he uses the art of Exploiting Space! His seemingly aimless wandering often drags defenders out of position or leaves him unmarked, creating space for teammates! Which also explains how he gives ones of the best GOAL scoring passes!

So he actually WALKS the TALK! Which is why he is a GOAT!

All the best for his swan song! My knowledge of football is not only bad but it’s still worse than my knowledge of cricket!

Speaking of which I remember Harsha bhogle!

Let the finals begin! I may sleep though!

Shubh ratri!

We all the the basic four taste sweet, salty, sour and bitter!

Did you know that there is now a fifth taste!

In fact it is so popular now that it has a whole science and followers behind it!

This new popular and trendy new taste is called the umami!

It is a savory, brothy, or juicy flavor that coats the tongue and lingers in the throat, creating a deeply satisfying sensation.

Umami was officially isolated and named in 1908 by Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda, who determined that the rich savoriness of seaweed (kombu) broth came from glutamates.

In effect Umami comes from the Japanese word for “a pleasant savory taste”.

This rich savoriness is seen in foods like:

Aged and fermented products: Parmesan cheese, soy sauce, and miso.

Cooked meats and broths: Stews, soup, and dashi.

Vegetables: Ripe tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms!

Which is why the shiitake mushrooms and Parmesan Cheese are now the go to choice for the culinary trends!

Apparently Specialized taste receptors on the human tongue detect L-glutamate, an amino acid found in proteins.

Combining glutamate-rich foods with ribonucleotides (like the ones found in mushrooms) multiplies the perceived savoriness!

How Umami Pairs with Other Tastes is may be your next question! Well it pairs so well!

Sweet: Deepens complex profiles, like adding aged cheese to fruit pairings.
Sour: Softens harsh acidity, making sharp dressings taste smoother.
Salty: Enhances perceived saltiness, allowing you to use less overall sodium.
Bitter: Masks unpleasant bitterness, which is why mushrooms pair well with bitter greens!

Some common High-Umami Ingredients include  Soy Sauce or miso paste or tomato paste into stews and sauces!

You can also use toppings and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast over dishes!

So the next time your food is dull; try awakening the Umami!


Then again imagine the life of a person who spent 27 years in jail just for being right!
Just having any food is heavenly then! Now that Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela! He makes actual SENSE! Not only Umami!

Think about that when you think only about food!

Shubh ratri…

This word derived from Sankrit has been used by even Charles Dickens and R  L Stevenson!

Later on it has also been used in marvel comics!

Sounds like German but it is actually Sanskrit!

The word is JUGGERNAUT!

A juggernaut by definition is a massive, unstoppable force, campaign, or object that crushes everything in its path!

The term can refer to a literal heavy vehicle (like a large freight truck) or a metaphorical entity, such as a dominant corporation, political movement, or sports team!

If you know many famous authors have used this term in their most famous novels!

Mary Shelley used the term in her novel The Last Man, published in 1826, to describe the plague: “like Juggernaut, she proceeds crushing out the being of all who strew the high road of life”.

Charles Dickens used the term in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, published in 1844, to describe the love-lorn sentiments of Mr. Augustus Moddle, the ‘youngest gentleman’ at Mrs. Todgers’s: “He often informed Mrs. Todgers that the sun had set upon him; that the billows had rolled over him; that the Car of Juggernaut had crushed him!

Robert Louis Stevenson used the term in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, published in 1886, when describing the violent Edward Hyde as “like some Juggernaut!”

Did you get the Sanskrit original?

You have to get it today since it is the day of the ORIGINAL JUGGERNAUT!

Yes! JAGANNATH! After witnessing the Puri Jagannath Yatra and others today you may not forget both the word and the impact of the word!

The word is derived from the Sanskrit/Odia Jagannātha (Devanagari जगन्नाथ, Odia ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ) “world-lord”, combining jagat (“world”) and nātha (“lord”), which is one of the names of Krishna!

The term though is specifically in reference to the massive ratha (chariots) used in the Rath Yatra festival in Odisha!

Early European travelers heard exaggerated tales of worshippers sacrificing themselves by throwing themselves under the wheels of these heavy carts, leading to the modern English metaphor for an irresistible, crushing power.

The Jagannath Rath Yatra is an annual Hindu festival held in Puri, Odisha, where the deities Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra are pulled in massive wooden chariots by millions of devotees along the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple.

The three massive chariots travel a distance of about three kilometers to the Gundicha Temple (often referred to as their aunt’s home).

After a stay of about nine days, the deities return to the main Jagannath Temple in the same chariots, an event called the Bahuda Yatra!

The pulling of the chariots symbolizes the divine journey of the soul and a devotee’s longing to bring the Lord into their heart!

Of course the sight of the huge rathas which gets pulled by a sea of devotees make a definite POWERFUL impression! The sheer size and strength of the huge chariot and the ropes would make you realise that this is nothing but small! Its huge! It is a JUGGERNAUT!

That’s the ratha of Bhagwan Krishna! Then you have one named after him who won the Dada Saheb Phalke award! Ravi Kishan!

Now let the sleep come without a pull!

Shubh ratri…

One of the words in the NYT yesterday was Quixotic!

Do you know the connection of that word with a country which just got into the finals of the FIFA2026!?

Now about the former I can go on and on! But please do not ask me about football! I don’t think I even know the full form of FIFA properly!

In fact the full form is related to the country which unfortunately could not make it to the finals! And was the team defeated by the country which is related to the word Quixotic!

Ok now that is a complicated play!

Lets TACKLE that one by one!

FIFA of course stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association which is translated from French and it means the International Federation of Association Football!

The answer of the country which could not make it to the finals even though FIFA full form is in its langauage is FRANCE!

Then the country which is into the finals and related to the QUIXOTIC word is SPAIN! Of course only a dud like me needs these references to know that! Then again you only concentrate on what you like!

Now before you know about Quixotic, you must know about Don Quixote!

This is of course a masterpiece Spanish novel written by Miguel de Cervantes and widely recognized as the first modern novel in literary history!

Originally published in two distinct parts in 1605 and 1615, it is a foundational work of Western literature that brilliantly satirizes the chivalric romances popular during the Spanish Golden Age!

The story in short is about Alonso Quijano, an aging, lower-tier Spanish nobleman living in La Mancha!

After devouring countless books about medieval knights, he loses his grip on reality and renames himself Don Quixote de la Mancha!

He sets out to resurrect the code of knight-errantry, righting the world’s wrongs on his feeble, bony horse, Rocinante!

His adventures or rather mis adventures form the crux of the story! But the more interesting part is that the story has inspired many words in English and Spanish like the one above!

Like the one which started the blog; Quixotic! This is an adjective describing someone who is extremely idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical.
It directly mirrors the protagonist’s habit of chasing noble, unreachable goals without regarding the real-world consequences!


Then you have an idiom which goes like this, “Tilting at Windmills”. This means fighting imaginary enemies or wasting energy combating invented wrongdoings. It stems from the iconic scene where Quixote mistakes giant windmills for menacing beasts and charges them with his lance!

Then you have the noun Dulcinea which is used to describe a sweetheart, mistress, or an idealized woman for whom a man undergoes great trials. In the novel, Dulcinea del Toboso is a plain peasant girl whom Quixote transforms in his mind into a flawless, royal lady love!

Finally you have Rocinante which is a term used to describe a broken-down, decrepit, or unreliable horse. It comes directly from the name of Quixote’s thin, weathered, and clumsy horse!

So do write a novel which makes Satire and imagination a tool for putting your point across and adding words to the language!

Now imagine if ENGLAND had entered the finals! Then I would not be Quixotic or would I!? Don will know!

With all the football talk it’s time for hockey also once in a while! Which reminds me of Dhanraj Pillay!

Now quit being toxic! And sleep!

Shubh ratri…

Do you remember the COVID!? Of course as a doctor we remember the ASTRONAUT ensemble! The mask and the PPE!

There was another costume which was famous and used for a similar purpose!

The Beak Mask costume!

In the famous game called the Assassins creed; the doctor is often shown in this costume!

When you dissect the costume then you would realise that it had lot of similarities to the COVID doctor ensemble!

The get up or costume was also called the plague doctor costume!

The plague doctor costume, famously associated with 17th-century European epidemics, was an early form of personal protective equipment designed to protect physicians from “bad air” or miasma.

The Core Components of a Traditional Costume with a historically accurate plague doctor ensemble typically includes the following items:

The Beak Mask: The most iconic piece, featuring glass eye openings and a long beak. Historically, this beak was stuffed with aromatic herbs and spices like lavender, mint, cloves, and rose petals to filter out foul smells!


The smell taken with the most caution was known as ‘miasma’, a noxious form of “bad air.” This was thought to be the principal cause of the disease. Doctors believed the herbs would counter the “evil” smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected.

Then you have the Waxed Gown or Robe which is a long coat made of heavy fabric (like linen) or leather, often coated in wax or animal fat to prevent bodily fluids or “miasma” from reaching the skin.


Then you have the Wide-Brimmed Hat which is typically made of leather, identifying the wearer as a medical professional!

Then you have the Leather Gloves and Boots which are Essential for preventing direct physical contact with infected patients!


The garments covered the body, shielding against splattered blood, lymph, and cough droplets, and the waxed robe prevented fleas (the true carriers of the plague) from touching the body or clinging to the linen!

Finally you have the Wooden Cane or Stick which was used by doctors to examine patients, take pulses, or remove clothing without having to touch them!

So these doctors used to PROTECT themselves with armour and even a stick! With all the events happening; do we also need similar protection!

Hopefully not!
Then again no need to take any chance!

Everytime Pullattuparam Brahmadathan Namboothiripad will not help you!

Who’s that!?
It’s for me to know and you to tell! Do let me know!

Shubh ratri…

This is actually a deformity but considered to be a mark of elegance!

So much so that one of the most recognisable structures in the world; the statue of Liberty has this deformity!

Now you may say ‘My foot’! And you will be close!

Now did you know that the Statue of Liberty has a longer second toe; sculptor Frederic Bartholdi studied Greek and Roman sculptures, modeling the statue’s feet to define her heritage from the earliest days of civilization!

This ‘deformity’ is called the Metatarsus Atavicus which medically is also known as Morton’s toe or Greek foot!

This is an anatomical variation where the second toe is longer than the big toe. While today it is often associated with foot pain, historically and culturally, it has been revered as a highly prized, classical symbol of beauty, elegance, and nobility!

Ancient Greek sculptors idealized the long second toe, often incorporating it into statues of gods, goddesses, and heroes!

The aesthetic standard persists in famous works like the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s David. Even the Statue of Liberty features toes of these proportions!

In certain ancient societies, the longer, narrower second toe was thought to create the illusion of delicacy and grace, making it a highly desirable feature!
Then again the medical reality is not so beautiful!

The appearance of a long second toe is actually caused by a shorter first metatarsal bone. Because the big toe is shorter, weight is shifted to the ball of the foot and the second metatarsal!

You may also end up with Footwear Challenges! Finding well-fitting shoes can be tricky. Experts recommend sizing shoes to the length of the second toe rather than the big toe to prevent crowding and nail issues!

The uneven weight distribution can occasionally lead to calluses, metatarsalgia, or even neuromas!

So being beautiful according to the Roman and Greek standards is not so easy! Now did you really put your FOOT IN MOUTH by saying MY FOOT!?

Then again the first Jurassic park movie was the standard and it went literally done the drain after that! Which reminds me of
Sir Nigel John Dermot “Sam” Neill!

He will be missed…
Heartfelt condolences…

Shubh ratri….

Have you heard of the term Retrouvaille?

We will get to it!

The number one discussion in most WhatsApp group after all the nonsense about politics and well everything else is REUNION! Or even simply a meet!

The final aim of most whatsapp group can be summarized in one line; WHEN WILL WE MEET AGAIN!


The joy of meeting is the supreme joy!

If you are meeting some of your friends after a long time and there is a strong possibility that you may meet him or her only very rarely then the joy is apparently more!

Which is when you understand the term Retrouvaille!

Retrouvaille is a French word meaning “rediscovery” or the joy of a joyful reunion with someone dear after a long time apart.

This concept connects deeply to relationships with friends and family. It captures the emotional magic of picking up right where you left off, even if years have passed!

Retrouvaille and Reunion are similar but the emotions in a Retrouvaille are much more deep and long lasting!

So while a Reunion is simply the act of coming together again (like a school or family event); the Retrouvaille describes the feeling of happiness and deep love during that reunion. It is the warmth of finding your connection again!

Real friendships survive physical distance. A retrouvaille moment happens the moment you hug your best friend at the airport after months or years!

It is also the excitement of sharing life updates while realizing the core of your friendship is still exactly the same!

No wonder the term Retrouvaille is also the name of a famous worldwide program for struggling marriages!  Though I am sure you will not need it since you keep reading my blogs!

Eventually you may become a super star! Like our Jogi!

A true blue Bangalorean would get it immediately!

Did you!?

Lemme know!

Shubh ratri…

A fruit company controlled a country which is why such an arrangement is name after a fruit!

In the late 1800s, American fruit companies, most notably the United Fruit Company (now Chiquita), began buying up huge amounts of land in Central American countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

Their only aim was to use the land to grow fruit and make profit!

The railways, roads and even the ports were only designed to make transport of materials for the company!

Similar to what East India did to India! All the so called development were only to make things easy to TRANSPORT wealth from India to their own country!

The United fruit company thus acquired massive lands at throwback prices and since they used to control everything they in affect controlled the government!

These companies built railroads and ports to effectively control the local economies and shipping their fruit to North America.

Because the fruit companies held so much economic power, they often interfered with local governments.

So if a leader tried to tax the companies or give land back to the local people, the corporations would use their political influence to help overthrow the government. This resulted in unstable, corrupt leadership that catered to foreign interests!

The country had an economy of state capitalism, where the country is operated as a private commercial enterprise for the exclusive profit of the ruling class.

Typically, such a country would then have a society of extremely stratified social classes, usually a large impoverished working class and a ruling class plutocracy, composed of the business, political, and military elites!

The ruling class controls the primary sector of the economy by exploiting labor.

Such exploitation is enabled by collusion between the state and favored economic monopolies, in which the profit, derived from the private exploitation of public lands, is private property.

At the same time, the debts incurred thereby are the financial responsibility of the public treasury!

All this because such a country was controlled by a fruit company! Did you get the name!? It is BANANA REPUBLIC!

The term banana republic is thus a pejorative descriptor for a servile oligarchy that abets and supports, for kickbacks, the exploitation of large-scale plantation agriculture, especially banana cultivation!

So we all know fruits are good for you! But now you know how they can be bad for a whole country!
Now now! Do not go bananas thinking about it!

Then again if you do want to think something nice then you can think about Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki…

What a great loss
A big tragedy indeed but an amazing life none the less…

She will be missed

Heartfelt condolences
Om shanti…