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Years back when we went to this hill station, my Nokia N 97 which was a revolutionary phone at the time lost all the charge at the beginning of the trip! This was because I was watching a movie in the night and just paused the movie and turned off the screen!

Those days the whole process used to go around in the background consuming battery unless you stop the movie and close the window completely! Of course those were some of the reasons why in spite of being so good, the Symbian operating system could not stand up to both Android or the iOS! In fact even my HTC windows phone given to me by my dear brother also had an amazing operating system! Then again it could not stand the test of time or users!

The point here is not mobile operating system though! Since I did not have any phone to shoot photos; I ended up buying the Kodak disposable camera with film! It was a cool experience shooting snaps without knowing what the final result would be! We did not even know how the focus or zoom! Still it was a different experience! I still have those photos which turned out to be ok! 

Now of course you cannot have that luxury at all! You go for a trip and you have an assortment of photos and digital albums! You can send it to the cloud and you can see whenever you want! The memories of FB or Google or One drive or iCloud would show you the photos and you can feel nostalgic all over again!

Then again there was a time when Kodak was the leader of photography! And the main thing to note was that the chief means of its income was the sale of photographic film! 

Like the printers of today where the companies actually make money not from printer sales but the sale of the inks and cartridges! There can be no printer which does not behave like a teenage child with a mind of its own! Most of the time it will work and then suddenly it will sulk and not print anything! Then when it comes out of its slump, it will start to print the same thing over and over again!

Now when Kodak was making so much money with the film and the reels; it went into a rainbow of slump! When you are comfortable you do not want to move! You do not want to innovate and slowly just like Nokia and other major success you will fall! 

Kodak’s middle managers, culture and rigid, bureaucratic structure hindered a fast response to new technology. Kodak’s middle managers were unable to make a transition to think digitally. 

Kodak has now experienced a nearly 80% decline! The interesting thing to note here is that even the idea of digital camera or photography was first in  Kodak by Eastman Kodak engineer Steven Sasson in 1975 and the executives sat on it for ages which made the hapless unappreciated inventor to approach another company and rest as they say is history! 

So as far as life is concerned, status quo is good! But if you want to make a difference then a constant improvement or change should be the norm! This should also have been the mantra of Director Shankar who used to give us amazing movies like I or Anniyan or Muthalvan! Hope he also innovates!

For now some process like sleep do not need any digital modification so be happy and sleep!

Shubh Ratri!

Any visit from anyone from the Middle east relatives is not complete if they do not give you some dry fruits! Dates are a given and specialty of middle east, specially the amazing Kuwait dates, but almonds are generally the norm!

Surprisingly they may not even be from the Middle east and may actually be the Californian almonds!

But (he he!) did you know that a handful of bitter almonds can actually kill you!

Now now! Do not throw those costly almonds yet! Or if you are that group which soaks and eats them, well then hold on!

So let us start with the bitter news first!

The bitterness and toxicity of wild almonds come from a compound called amygdalin. When ingested, this compound breaks down into several chemicals, including benzaldehyde, which tastes bitter, and cyanide! So much so that a handful of bitter almonds can kill a person!

Then again that is only if the almonds are bitter (which is rare and all of them have to be bitter!)

It is rare nowadays to get bitter almonds though some may crop up accidently since it has taken years of evolution like the poisonous mushrooms or the wild dogs to get domesticated!

But more than 12 thousand years ago just like how we domesticate animals, almonds were also domesticated into the sweet and healthy ones we relish today!
Even now you do have bitter poisonous almonds in the wild which are harmful to you! So just like bitter words and people; the best thing to do when you encounter bitter almonds, simply avoid only those almonds!

Then you would think the bitterness may go if you soak them, but that is not true!

Soaking almonds is not strictly necessary, but it can offer some potential benefits and is a matter of personal preference. Soaking can improve digestibility and potentially increase the absorption of certain nutrients. It can also soften the texture and enhance the flavor of the almonds.

Soaking can help break down phytic acid, an anti-nutrient found in the almond skin, which can hinder the absorption of certain minerals like zinc, calcium, and iron.
So by reducing phytic acid, soaking may make it easier for the body to absorb vitamins and minerals from the almonds. The process of soaking can soften the almonds, making them easier to chew and potentially reducing digestive discomfort for some individuals. Soaked almonds tend to have a softer texture, which some people find more appealing. Soaking can also enhance their natural sweetness.

If you have a sensitive stomach or experience digestive issues, soaking may be a good idea. If you prefer the convenience of raw almonds or enjoy their texture, there’s no need to soak them, according to a dietitian. Both soaked and raw almonds offer valuable nutrients.

Soaking in fact may remove bitterness but that is by reducing Tannins and not amygdalin! So if the almonds are bitter to begin with, soaking is not the way to go! Just throw the bitter almonds and have the sweet ones instead! Believe me there are many sweet ones out there! Both almonds and people!

One of the sweetest of them is Bhagwan Shri Krishna! Just the mere mention of his name makes you feel blessed! He is the epitome of love and devotion!

A sketch inspired by my imagination!

Wishing all a very happy Shri Krishna Janmashtami!

Jai Shri Krishna!

Time flies by when you are having fun and this time it was actually a short time in any case! The couple of weeks of holiday and break to get a feel of life was really nice!

Last week in India was an amalgamation of sweet memories and great food and just the feel of India! Even the traffic woes to the narrow roads to the dust and the heavenly rains! Rains which are so beautiful but block the roads though the worst thing is the traffic jam during a rain!

The biggest issue is the fact that the roads get so filled up with water that you would not know how deep is the pit which is filled with water!

Then again you can never get enough of the food! The amount of variety we have is simply mind boggling! Our visit to Italy made us alternate between pasta and pizza! But when you are in India the variety you have would make you feel dizzy with hunger which obviously is the idea!

Starting with the breakfast in one hotel with one speciality to lunch in another house to dinner some where else and no two items would be the same! Even between two houses the sambar or the rasam would have been different! Forget the main food; even the fried fritters or pakodas or bondas would be different from one house to another! So while we had amazing chilly and capsicum bajji from one place; a round of potato and raw banana ones were waiting for us in the other house!

Forget hotel; even the prasadam we used to get in one temple or the other would be so different! But all of them would be so tasty! The fact that you have to stand in a line and then you get a small helping somehow makes it so tasty that you long for more!

If you want to have chats then you just have to start counting the variety! 

If you select rice then the curries and the gravies and the sides would be more than the rice itself! Start with a helping of hot ghee over hot rice and end with some nice thick set curds and you know the plate would be licked clean!

Our final stop was the beautiful Bengaluru airport! Easily one of the best, beautiful and passenger friendly airports in the world! Even the immigration and security is a breeze if you follow the procedure! There are so many counters and the staff were so helpful! In fact now we know how to keep our chargers and laptops and cables out and in a line so that the scanning goes off without a hitch!

Taking a selfie with the backdrop of a screen which says happy independence day or har ghar tiranga made us both sad and happy! Sad to leave this beautiful country and happy that every day was full of amazing variety of beautiful memories! 

The key word is variety! You have amman temple, or the bhagavathy or the meenakshi but they all are forms of devi or shakthi! It is the same with everything in our beautiful Bharat!

An ode to my favorite freedom fighter of India and a tearful farewell to my mother…land!

Happy Independence day dear India and Indian!

Jai Hind!

A movie I saw recently called Mahavatar Narsimha! Apart from the amazing graphics and story telling and of course the mind blowing climax; I was particularly  enthralled by the imagination of the director and the story teller!

Now we all know the story already and of course some creative liberties are allowed, what sets the movie apart is the fact that the level of thought process you need is reallyt magnificent! You need to imagine the grandeur and the power of Bhagwan and show that to the world! 

But then do you know that there are some who cannot do that! Not direct or make an great movie, but not imagine!

Now remember how when sometimes you are told to imagine a picture or an image in your mind and many times you just can’t! There are a group of people who can never do it! 

There are many of course whose sense of imagination is limited and everyone has his or her own limits but then there are some who simply cannot imagine and that condition is called Aphantasia which is the inability to create mental imagery!  

Aphantasia, is derived from the ancient Greek word phantasia which means “imagination”, and the prefix a which means “without”! The phenomenon was first described by Francis Galton in 1880! Now though the word was only discovered in 1880, am sure people would have had this issue, but they could not imagine a word for it!

Technically Aphantasia is a characteristic where individuals are unable to create mental images voluntarily. This means that when prompted to visualize something, like a red apple or a friend’s face, aphantasics don’t experience the mental picture that most people do. 

Now while the initial focus has been on visual imagery, research suggests that aphantasia can extend to other sensory modalities as well. Some individuals with aphantasia report difficulty with imagining sounds, tastes, smells, and even bodily sensations. This broader impact on sensory imagination has led to discussions about using the term “aphantasia” in a wider sense, potentially with specifiers for specific modalities (e.g., “auditory aphantasia”). 

It’s important to understand that aphantasia is not considered a disorder or a disability. Instead, it’s viewed as a variation in how the brain processes information, similar to being left-handed. While it can present some challenges in areas like memory and learning, most individuals with aphantasia lead successful and fulfilling lives when in fact they may not even know that they have this condition!

Individuals with aphantasia often develop ways to manage in a world that often assumes visual thinking. They might rely more on verbal and conceptual processes, develop strong logical reasoning, or succeed in fields like mathematics or coding which don’t depend on mental imagery. External aids like notes, sketches, or photography may also be used to help with memory and creative tasks.

Aphantasia can influence how individuals process emotions and relationships. While emotional connections are possible, the lack of vivid mental imagery may make recalling past events less intense or make it hard to visualize loved ones who have passed away. There are of course therapies to take care of this so do not imagine anything worse!

Though recognized and known from 1880, the phenomenon remained largely unstudied until 2005, when Professor Adam Zeman of the University of Exeter was approached by a man who seemed to have lost the ability to visualize after undergoing minor surgery! 

The phenomenon is now widely studied and researched. But don’t worry, a positive thing is that those with aphantasia were also found to have “significantly elevated” IQ levels! 

Then again artists like P Leela normally have not only a great imagination but also an elevated IQ!

Now don’t imagine too much and sleep!

Shubh ratri!

This is probably one of the worlds first man made flying object!

Now like a rocket if you are planning to hit someone or something with it then you must understand that if it returns then the ‘MISSION’ was unsuccessful!

One of the few things which makes you know that it has failed when it actually makes the trip back to your hands!

No need to rack your brain to much lest it goes for a contra coup injury!

The object is or are Boomerangs! 

The Boomerangs were the first man (or woman!) Made flying objects!

The longest flight of a Boomerang is less than two minutes! Newton might as well have seen a Boomerang when he thought about his third law because well, it comes back!

Then again am sure a Boomerang from its origin in Australia may not have travelled so far as the apple tree that supposedly inspired Newton and knocked an apple!

Now everyone is usually amazed at how the Boomerang comes back to the same place after being thrown! But if it comes back when you are aiming at a bird or a fruit or some other thing and it comes back then it means that the target was missed! You may have got the Boomerang back but the mission is failed!

SO when a Boomerang comes back it means that you have aimed the throw perfectly! But of course it also means that if you are a hunter then you have missed hitting anything! It takes so much practice to get the first part right! Then after you have perfected that, you have to practice much more to get the Boomerang to hit something and not just come back! Now that is a load of work mate!

Then you have  the “Boomerang Effect” which is also not so straight in meaning! The “boomerang” can refer to someone who returns after being initially rejected or ignored and the “boomerang effect” can describe a situation where an action or message intended to have a certain effect ends up producing the opposite!

Then again if you have talents like Kalamandalam Kesavan then you would obviously produce the intended effect and not the Boomerang one!

Now make sure that your sleep does not Boomerang!

Shubh Ratri!

Have you ever wondered how children usually love clowns while many adults are terrified of them! In fact even when the clowns are scary, children like then or feel happy or get amused by them!

But many adults get terrified or get scared or at least get more stressed when they see a clown! They may not feel that it is funny! 

There is a phobia which goes with this when it is extreme!

So now many people are scared of clowns due to the “uncanny valley” effect, where something that is almost human but not quite right can be unsettling. Other factors include negative portrayals in media, unpredictable behavior, and the way their makeup hides their true emotions. 

Conversely, some people enjoy the heightened arousal and adrenaline rush associated with fear, or they may have had positive experiences with clowns and not associate them with negativity. 

This psychological phenomenon suggests that humans feel unease or even revulsion towards things that appear almost, but not quite, human. Clowns, with their exaggerated features and painted faces, can trigger this response, making people feel uncomfortable or scared!

One reason also can be the fact that Clowns often wear heavy makeup that obscures their natural facial expressions, making it difficult to read their emotions. This lack of clarity about their intentions can lead to unease and anxiety. What you do not see is even more scary added to our imagination!

Moreover the playful, sometimes erratic behavior of clowns can be unsettling for some. This unpredictability can make people feel like they are not in control of the situation, increasing their anxiety!

Of course some very popular movies have made them scary! 

Have you heard of Coulrophobia?

Well it’s the  fear of clowns and is a widely acknowledged phenomenon! Studies indicate this fear is present among both adults and children in many different cultures! 

But still you do have those who love clowns!

For some, clowns are associated with positive experiences like childhood birthday parties or family outings. This can create a positive emotional response and a sense of comfort around clowns. They may not have any fear of clowns! Though they may tell you not to clown around so much!

Then again Clowning is a serious business! Serious also is the contribution of Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai  to the space program of Bharat!

Now do not watch ‘IT’ if you do not want to develop Coulrophobia! Watch the movie Mahavatar Narsimha instead! It will be worth it!

Shubh Ratri!

Do you know who is the best designer in the world!?

Even if you are an atheist; you would still agree that NATURE is the best designer ever! There is such perfection in Nature that you must feel that you already have the final product! All you need to do is reverse engineer and make the next big thing!

This whole aspect of getting ‘inspired’ by nature or ‘life’ is known as Biomimicry!

Biomimicry is thus the process of sustainably creating policies, products, and services for the betterment of living beings. This implies that biomimicry is the process of imitating life!

The central idea behind biomimicry is that nature, through billions of years of evolution, has already solved many of the problems that humans face today. 

The basic idea is that nature has already developed efficient ways to Harvest and store energy, Manage resources and minimize waste and Adapt to changing environmental conditions. Now when you already have an amazing system in place, all you need to do is use your brain to use the blueprint of the nature!

Modern turbine blades form a prominent example of biomimicry. The concept of modern turbine blades is inspired by the structure of the flippers of humpback whales which are about 5 meters long and have bumps or irregularities called pectorals that help them accelerate at a significantly high rate. 

The modern turbine blades typically contain three-dimensional bumps on their edges. This helps provide a separate passage for the smooth flow of fluids thereby improving the overall efficiency of the device. It also helps reduce noise pollution by a considerable amount!

In fact there are many such examples in nature! In fact one of the most common things used in our day to day life is the Velcro! 

The design of Velcro was inspired by how burrs stick to animal fur!

You can also see how the tip of the high speed trains are shaped or been modeled after a kingfisher’s beak to reduce noise and improve aerodynamics!

Biomimicry is closely related to terms like biomimetics and bionics, which also refer to learning from nature but may focus more on the technical reproduction of biological features.

If you search some place for Biomimicry then you can see that in architecture also Biomimicry has been extensively used the inspired!

The Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe has a passive cooling system which is inspired by termite mounds, which regulate temperature through a complex network of ventilation tunnels. This approach allows the building to stay cool with minimal energy, using only 10% of the energy found in typical air-conditioned buildings!

The Gherkin in London has a double-layer glass facade which mimics the structure of the Venus flower basket sponge, using air pockets for insulation and an aerodynamic shape that minimizes wind resistance, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and structural strength!

Then you have the Garden by the Bay in Singapore. The structure has Super trees, vertical gardens that mimic real trees’ functions. These structures provide shade, collect rainwater, house plants, and harness solar energy, demonstrating urban biomimetic design!

Of course Biomimicry can be seen everywhere! And if you want to make a new thing or a new device or any new way of making something better then all you need to do is think about Biomimicry!

Then again some things in nature may not be having an equal! Like someone like Sunil Shetty who started as a muscular macho dude but became famous as a comedian and how! 

Now lets do Biomimicry on ourselves and sleep!

SHubh Ratri!

We chanted the very holy Gayatri Mantra 1008 times today!

Do it with concentration and devotion and you will fell comforted!

The number 1008 holds significance in several religions and spiritual traditions, often representing auspiciousness, completeness, and divine attributes.

Did you know that not only Hinduism but also Jainism and in many other religion, this number is significant and auspicious!

In Jainism, it is associated with the auspicious marks on a Tirthankar’s body and the infinite distance between the pure soul and karma!

Saint Olga of Kiev (in Ukraine), who was venerated in Roman Catholicism especially in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was the first in that region to convert to 

Christianity. According to her, when you see a number such as 1008 over and over again, it is an angel trying to communicate with you through this number. Olga calls it Angel Number!

In Hinduism of course this is a very special number!

The number 1008 is used in Sahasranama chanting (reciting the 1000+ names of a deity) and other rituals, suggesting a connection with divine power and grace!

It is believed that reciting the names of deities 1008 times can bring spiritual benefits and connect the individual with the divine. 

There is also a mathematical equation which gets us to this number!

According to the ancient Hindu scriptures, there are 1008 mahayugas

That number is obtained in sequence and there are 14 manvantaras and -72 maha yugas! When you multiply them you get the number 1008! So 1008 maha yugas!

So when you chant 1008 times, you are chanting for each yuga!

You can simply think that it increases your concentration and meditation! It is after all, in your mind and soul! Another busy day of travel and of course Raksha Bandhan tying! 

Wishing peace and divinity for all!

Another Palakaddan sketch today! Raghuvaran Velayuthan Nair aka Raghuvaran!

Shubh ratri!

A special day today when we normally chant our Mantra 108 times! We also chant some mantras 1008 times!

Even many other times 108 is a special number! 

One raised to the power of 1 added to 2 raised to the power of 2 added to three raised to the power of 3 will also give the number as 108!

Then you have cosmology!

Astronomically, the distance between the Earth and Sun is approximately 108 times the Sun’s diameter; similarly, the distance between the Earth and Moon is about 108 times the Moon’s diameter!

Mathematically, 108 is seen as representing the wholeness of existence and is a Harshad number (divisible by the sum of its digits)!

This may be the reason why the number 108 is considered sacred in many Eastern religions, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and also holds significance in cosmology and mathematics. It’s often associated with spirituality, wholeness, and the interconnectedness of the universe!

Malas (prayer beads) often have 108 beads, used for counting repetitions of mantras or prayers!

We also have 108 Upanishads and there are 108 dance forms in Indian tradition and 108 vital points in the human body according to Ayurveda!

In some Buddhist traditions, the New Year’s Eve bell is struck 108 times to represent overcoming 108 earthly passions! It’s said Siddhartha Gautama conquered 108 demons to achieve enlightenment!

108 has various mathematical properties, being a semiperfect number, a tetranacci number, and divisible by its Euler’s totient function (φ)!

Finally the number is seen by some as representing the wholeness of existence!

The Sanskrit alphabet includes 54 letters, each with masculine and feminine forms—totaling 108!

In martial arts, 108 is also referenced in techniques and forms due to its symbolic importance!

All in all that’s 108 for you!

Another day done and dusted so fast! Remembering another famous Palakad personality Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar!

Shubh ratri!

Did you know that the way a lobster behaves and a human behaves is dependent on the levels of the same hormone!?

In a book called 12 rules of life by Jordan B Peterson, his first rule tells us about lobster! Lobsters are crustaceans, an ancient sub-phylum believed to have arisen around 350m years ago. 

Male lobsters compete for territory using aggressive displays and sometimes fights, resulting in a social dominance hierarchy. Female lobsters choose dominant male lobsters to mate with, so high status lobsters get the best territory and “all the girls”!  

But (yeah the return of the BUT!); it apparently depends on the levels of a hormone!

It has a similar role in the humans!

The hormone is serotonin!

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter with a role in the human nervous system. In lobsters and humans, social status correlates positively with serotonin levels! In the brain, the serotonin pathway works in concert with the dopamine pathway that mediates reward!

It has been seen that serotonin plays a significant role in regulating posture and behavior, particularly in the context of dominance and aggression. Serotonin, when injected into lobsters, can induce a posture of flexion (curling up), while octopamine, another neurochemical, induces the opposite, extension. 

Serotonin influences how lobsters interact with each other, particularly in aggressive encounters. For example, after losing a fight, a lobster might exhibit lower serotonin levels, potentially leading to a more withdrawn or defensive posture! This is similar to someone losing a fight! The withdrawn shoulder down look!

While there are clear differences between lobster and human nervous systems, some researchers suggest that the link between serotonin and dominance hierarchies in lobsters may provide insights into similar dynamics in human societies!

In fact many functions in the body are mediated by the Serotonin! This include your mood, sleep and even appetite! This is probably why many mood modifying drugs are directly or indirectly involved with the production and levels of serotonin!

Truth and being straight when it comes to rules may actually depend on many other factors though! Which is why such people are rare! Such as another Palakkad personality T N Seshan! Possibly one of the most famous election commissioner ever!

Now try the most effective and natural way to get some natural serotonin levels to be regulated in the body! SLEEP!

Shubh ratri!