May 9, 2008

Thank God for democracy

I hate when politics interfere with the greater good of its people (LINK). But then again Burma or as they say, Union of Myanmar (LINK) is not a democratic country.


I guess thanks are in order that I am lucky to be living in a democratic country where even though its being governed by imbeciles - at least I can sleep peacefully in the night with the thought that I was the one who voted to get them elected in the first place.

So, did you vote lately?



May 8, 2008

Things I do not get

Have you ever had the privilege of just sitting there and just scratching your head and going - I just do not get this! For example, BBC reported a story recently (LINK) and I still cannot fathom how a 45 year old grandpa on the ground blind a helicopter pilot flying in the sky, let alone what the old man is doing playing with laser pens!

I thought about this and looked for people who share the same scratch the head feelings every now and then... I thought I would be alone - but boy I was wrong.

I found a genius for whom 13 things did not make sense (LINK). But then he goes on and on about things like the placebo effect and the pioneer anomaly and things that definitely did not make sense to me. Then there is this guy who cannot get why one of his dinner guest is wearing a combover to hide his grey hairs (LINK). Silly I know, I too do not get it.

Then there is also voices of unreason to whom few facts of human society do not make sense (LINK). Well why do people laugh and get angry when someone farts? Anyone?

But this one takes the cake... or should I say banana? Hmm.. watch and let me know:



Now that surely does not make sense!

May 7, 2008

Naming the Cyclones

I was just wondering why some kids have funny names. One theory I can think behind this logic is that may be, just maybe - the parents knew that child would bring them grief so this was a way to get back at them.

I can only imagine the father / mother going on with a smirk on their face - knowing all along that they will be the source of all the ridicules the baby will endure during his / her school years and perhaps if they are lucky even after! No matter what the kid does to bring hell to them - they know the name that they have given him /her will torment the poor soul even more.... ;-)

Have you ever had the opportunity of naming someone? Just imagine the possibility of having that immense power of what that poor innocent soul will be called for ever...

Speaking of names, I just found out that the first use of a proper name for a tropical cyclone was by an Australian forecaster early in this century. He gave tropical cyclone names "after political figures whom he disliked. By properly naming a cyclone or hurricane, the weatherman had the power to publicly describe a politician (who perhaps was not too generous with weather-bureau budget or perhaps really deserved it) as 'causing great distress' or 'wandering aimlessly about the Pacific'. Perhaps we should all vote and get that practice back in use... Imagine the commenter going, "Hurricane Bush has caused havoc around the globe..."

Anyway, the general idea behind naming the cyclones is of course to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches, and warnings. Since the storms can often last a week or longer and that more than one can be occurring in the same basin at the same time, names can reduce the confusion about which storm is being described.

During World War II, tropical cyclones were informally given women's names by USA Air Force (typical) and Navy meteorologists (after their girlfriends or wives) who were monitoring and forecasting tropical cyclones over the Pacific.

From 1950 to 1952, tropical cyclones of the North Atlantic Ocean were identified by the phonetic alphabet (Able-Baker-Charlie-etc.), but in 1953 the USA Weather Bureau switched it back to women's names. I guess they wanted more TV ratings and perhaps a woman's name would make the cyclone more vicious and dangerous and sexy and perhaps give its own character than Baker Charlie Alpha would.

In 1979, the WMO and the USA National Weather Service (NWS) switched to a list of names that also included men's names.

The Northeast Pacific basin tropical cyclones were named using women's names starting in 1959 for storms near Hawaii and in 1960 for the remainder of the Northeast Pacific basin. In 1978, both men's and women's names were utilized.

The Northwest Pacific basin tropical cyclones were given women's names officially starting in 1945 and men's names were also included beginning in 1979.

The North Indian Ocean region tropical cyclones are not named.

The Southwest Indian Ocean tropical cyclones were first named during the 1960/1961 season.

The Australian and South Pacific region (east of 90E, south of the equator) started giving women's names to the storms in 1964 and both men's and women's names in 1974/1975.

You can look for cyclones by their names here.

Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

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May 6, 2008

The world around me

The last time I was this exited was when I got my Ipod Touch. So it would be anyone's guess who called me today... ;-)

May 3, 2008

All that twitters is not gold

I think the best feeling anyone can expect is knowing somewhere someone is thinking of you. The sense of belonging to someone can be euphoric, I guess.


I was always under the apprehension that I was a loner and probably one of the few people who could survive being an island. I was happy being on my own, making my own decisions and not worry if my snoring would bother anyone. It was fun being cold and alone like the cold Artic or the lonely Australia, minding my own business.

My feelings did not falter until I met her. Funny how we met as well. Of the weirdest of all places - a topic which I am sure would make a nice story over a cuppa.

There were times, ofcourse that I would wish I never did. We would at times argue about the most silliest of things and frown like little kids. But then before the sun came up again the next day, we would realise our follies and just talk again as if nothing ever happend. I finally realised that even Australia needs the company of New Zealand. There was summer in the Artics, finally.

It was a sad moment - there is no doubt about it - when we parted company. The global warming hit the news. The polar caps finally were starting to melt. Despite what everyone thought or said (there were a few characters on the way), it was one of the most beautiful moments in our lives and the thought itself is enough to last a lifetime.

Which brings me back to the title of this post. I know there must be some use for it, but I just fail to see the phenomenon behind Twitter. What purpose would it serve to have people stalking your every thought (expressed within 140 characters or less)? What the bejeegees would it serve to wonder what a perfect stranger is doing right now? Are we so lonely and desperate for fame that we need stalkers in our life now?

The only compelling argument I can see in favour of all the twitters is from the jealous and no-trusting boyfriend / girlfriend. They probably would want to know what his / her better half is doing right now every now and then. I can just see it going:

Girlfriend going to her girlfriend:

"My darling is making tea. No, wait! There is a twitter update. He's just tore up a packet of biscuit to eat with his tea."

But still she would phone the boyfriend up and say, "Darling, hi its me! I just saw your twitter update. What kind of biscuit are you having?"

P.S. By the way I do not mind stalkers and you can stalk me on Twitter at dreamzunlimited (Link).