2079- Books

2020- Reading

1997- cute children

https://www.facebook.com/narayanarao.c.5/videos/538184659655810/?l=2644358603470426528

1985- A couch, a cup and a a book

1942- Radios & nostalgia

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The pleasant memories of a bygone era, when life was not controlled by TV or social networks like fb etc but moved at a slow and relaxed pace with valve radios (later transistors) and gramophones, haunt.
Middle1950s through’60s, makes me nostalgic of Telugu/ English news readers, drama artists, Sunday cinemas (only audio), programmes etc.-Mangamma, Rajamannar, Melvel de mellow,Surjit Sen, Latika Ratnam, Balanandam annayya- Nyapati Raghava Rao, Karmikula karyakramam Ekambaram, Subbaramayya, Dharmasandehalu- Ushasri, Nanduri Subba Rao, Vittal, Banda Kanakalingeswar Rao, Samantaka Mani, Sarada Srinivasan, Sarada Asokavardhan, Sthanam. Radio Ceylon ‘Binaca/ Cibaca Geetamala’ on Wednesdays at 8pm- Ameen Sayani; KLSaigal song at the end of Hindi songs in radio Ceylon, Vividh Bharati with their popular programmes 'Sangeet Sarita', 'Bhule Bisre Geet', Hawa Mahal, 'Jaimala', 'Inse Miliye', 'Chhaya Geet' etc.,
5day test cricket match commentary by Chakrapani, Anand Rao, expert comments by Raja of Vizayanagaram-‘Vizzy’! Radios- Pie,Murphy, Bush, Sharp jhankar etc.HMV Gramophones with handles to wind and needles 78rpms, later with light crystals 45, 33.3 rpms, LPs etc.(Even now, I hold those LPs, like clinging to old memories). All these will definitely have resonance with all the senior citizens.
Those days were not with so many comforts as of the present, but life with few wants was very sublime and fulfilling. ‘Jaane kahaan gayE O din..’- to quote Mera Nam Joker.
Now radio is resurrected with FMs, since 2005, with their RJs trying to out beat the pioneer, Ameen Sayani of Binaca geetmala!
[Binaca brand was owned by Reckitt Benckiser which sold it to Dabur in 1996 for INR12 million (US$190,000)].
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1713- hindi film songs

http://thesongpedia.com/ye-raat-ye-chandni-male-jaal/

http://thesongpedia.com/tum-agar-mujhko-na-chaho-dil-hi-toh-hai/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wjGc1zGWBc&feature=youtu.be

http://thesongpedia.com/awara-hun-awara/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EagBXY4TqKI&feature=youtu.be

http://thesongpedia.com/dost-dost-na-raha-sangam/#.dpuf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClAXd0itpsA&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaKIKHmz3M&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zDDoBQmFSI&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oRJkAjJ8Pg&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu7rKGPDW10&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmYFRNXrPdk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjNYWwtBjeY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98qyx72KRs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heXQRxM2Gro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAWdqHPYwDQ&feature=youtu.be

1708- "50 writers, 50 books: The best of Indian fiction"

Edited by Pradeep Sebastian and Chandra Siddan
(Rs.499 priced book got at a bargain price of Rs.149 on purchase made on Amazon.in)

1705- Arabs today

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=538742626227275&set=vb.150001715101370&type=2&theater

1699- Q & A - `Fears over Sanskrit are emotional ­ with - clear caste and religious overtones'

Dec 15 2014 : The Times of India (Chennai)





Ganesh Devy is a Padma Shri awardee and Unesco Linguapax laureate who headed the People's Linguistic Survey of India 2010. Speaking with Robin David, Devy discussed why qualms around Sanskrit are emotional, effective ways of preserving Sanskrit's heritage ­ and which languages merit equal attention: 

 

Why do you say the current debate over reviving Sanskrit is more emotional than practical?

Today, very few people claim Sanskrit as their first language ­ it's not possible to buy a train ticket or even get Ayurveda medicine us ing Sanskrit. It is not a language of use any more. It's not been a language of use in India since the 17th century ­ and we're now in the 21st century. So, to whip up emotions about losing Sanskrit, then reviving it, is a purely emotive effort.
It is true that modern Indian languages are based on Sanskrit. But it is also true that modern Indian languages have been in existence for nearly 1,000 years now and can be studied seriously on their own. For great scholarship in English, you no longer have to study Latin and Greek.
It's an emotional issue ­ and it has very clear overtones of caste and religious identities.

You've fought to ensure certain languages don't die ­ why shouldn't Sanskrit be amongst those languages?

I fight for languages spoken by people in communities. They need to live on, so that the communities can continue their existence with dignity.
Some languages are seen as less important. Tribal languages are seen as inferior and backward. That is not desirable. But with Sanskrit, no one will ever look at its use as a sign of backwardness. On the contrary , if there's an individual who can speak or write Sanskrit, that's seen as a sign of scholarship. The fear is, we might forget the legacy of Sanskrit, rather than the life of Sanskrit. We have to make that distinction. There are ways of managing that fear by preserving manuscripts, building good libraries, digitising Sanskrit literature. Look at how the French take care of their language.
All Indian languages together constitute less than 1% of the international web space, which is not good.

If we strive to protect all our Indian languages, that would lead to a much better situation.
Many see English as a threat to Sanskrit ­ your view?

It definitely isn't. The use of the two languages is different. In India, we've managed successfully to allow languages to have different roles in our lives.
Our banking is done in English but our birth, death and marriage rituals are in Sanskrit. Certain domains of our lives are dominated by Persian even today ­ our entire entertainment domain is managed by languages that spring out of Persian.On the other hand, cricket comes from an English ethos.

To disturb the good harmony between different languages is not a good thing for India.
Which Indian languages deserve as much emphasis as Sanskrit?

Tamil, Telugu and Bengali ­ these are spoken by very large numbers and will survive this phase of lan guage decline.
From a business point of view also, these will be important in the future.

1607- 'Life is a "Su Doku"! Or "keep Alzheimer’s away"

Hemantha Kalam - 26
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During the past few years I have been observing my sister (a blogger herself) settling silently in a secluded place at home and go through the newspaper with a pencil. Curious, I checked with her when she said that she was working on ‘Su Doku’. I did not realise then, but on experience I found that this seclusion is the first step of comparison of life with ‘Su Doku’.

As a person who always felt that no game should demand any exertion on the mind, I wondered what thrill she derived, but left her to her own designs.

Now during the past year or so, when I had much time on hand and I had started really ‘reading’ the newspapers, to kill time, I started attempting to work on the ‘Su Doku’ and solve, though it could tax my mind which, in normal times, I never relished.

One incentive, I felt, would be that working on such ‘puzzling matters’ could help me keep my mind in shape and probably keep Alzheimer’s away. Funny though, but some intuition always tells me that I would indeed be a victim of Alzheimer’s in the days to come. By writing this here I am sure that I am paving not a path but a highway to be ridiculed, but I do guess that I am entitled to my own superstitions and beliefs until disproved!

Initially, even the easiest ‘Su Doku’ used to make me sweat it out, but over a period I got a grip on the game and gained the confidence of tackling it. Today anything less than ‘hard’ level of difficulty, does not really hold my interest anymore!

Now, what is ‘Su Doku’?

I am sure that I am wasting space and lines and precious time, as most of the people would already know, but let me explain as quickly as I can, about ‘Su Doku’.

‘Su Doku’ is a puzzle game. Though the present day’s ‘Su Doku’ certainly is from Japan, the real game is believed to have originated from China, around 1000 BC. The name ‘Su Doku’ by which the game is now popular is indeed a Japanese abbreviation apparently means Single number (Su = Number, Doku = Single) and the full name is Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru roughly meaning, "the digits must occur only once" or "limited to single figures." (http://martyneville.hubpages.com/hub/sudoku-origin-and-history) It was only in the year 1986, that the abbreviation ‘Su Doku’ took birth. Some believe that ‘Su Doku’ originated from Switzerland and travelled to Japan via America. (http://www.sudokudragon.com/sudokuhistory.htm)

While ‘Su Doku’ also is presented in different patterns like,-

Samurai ‘Su Doku’
Double Samurai
Triple Samurai
WeiHwa ‘Su Doku’
Five Squares ‘Su Doku’
Six Triangles ‘Su Doku’

the standard ‘Su Doku’ pattern is symmetrical.

Playing ‘Su Doku’ is a paradox.

In a standard and symmetrical game of ‘Su Doku’, a square / box comprising of nine inner squares / boxes, which in turn will have nine squares / boxes in each will have some digits and the balance digits need to be guessed right and placed.

The numbers from 1 to 9 should be arranged in each row and in each box without using the same number again either in the line or in the inner box. Thankfully only vertical or horizontal lines should be in a row and not diagonal rows. The system is simple, but solving is challenging and the quantum increases by the level you choose to play.

Solved ‘Su Doku’ - is attached for reference.
(Courtesy: http://logicalgenetics.com/assorted/sudoku/sudoku-depthfirst2.png)

All games need planning, for sure, but ‘Su Doku’ cannot be worked at all, without a combination of patience, planning, guessing, eliminating, strategising and ensuring zero error. If a single error occurs , the whole puzzle takes a toss and no marks to be awarded, unless the total puzzle is completed.

We should start by;
1) taking a look at the resources (digits) available
2) beginning with what we know to be sure
3) introspecting
4) correcting if we are using a pencil and an eraser
5) eliminating possibilities
6) filling in steadily
7) taking more time if and when needed and
8) continuing to be positive all the time and not to despair

Now let us see what the playing rules of ‘Su Doku’ and that of ‘life’ are!

(1)One person has to play at a time – in seclusion and with calm mind (Su Doku)
A person has to lead his own life with a calm disposition. (Life)

(2)Frame of a large square (Su Doku)
Frame of Time (Life)

(3)Existence of some resources like inner structures and some digits to guide (Su Doku)
Existence of some resources like parents, siblings, teachers and friends to guide (Life)

(4)You don’t have answers for all. You need to find the solution by calculating and guessing and using the resources (Su Doku)
You don’t have answers for all. You need to find the solution by calculating and guessing and using the resources (Life)

(5)You know the missing numbers but to place them appropriately is the issue (Su Doku)
You know resources and priorities but really structuring the priorities is the issue
(Life)

(6)You cannot create a conflict by placing the same number in a row or in a box (Su Doku)
You need to be unique yet without antagonising – be it in your own family or in society (Life)

(7)Law of elimination helps solving the game better (Su Doku)
Life can be better by eliminating un wanted qualities and connections (Life)

(8)Levels of difficulties and achievement
Levels of difficulties and achievements
Resources may be few in high level of difficulty but it is not impossible to solve. You steadily build up the needed digits (Su Doku)
Resources may be few but you can augment and grow steadily by working with singular goal and focusing in the right direction (Life)

(9)While working, you put digit after digit without really thinking of the final success picture (Su Doku)
In life too we grow step by step working towards the ultimate and wholesome success (Life)

(10)People who use pencils and erasers (sudoku)
are moderates and willing to correct(life)

(11)People who use pens and permanent markers (sudoku)
are pre-conceived, rigid and not willing to change without paying a price(life)

(12)The fun is in working towards achievement and once achieved fun is lost (Su Doku)
The fun is to live a full life and once lived, interest lost (Life)

(13)The full puzzle needs to be solved and no marks for part fulfillment (Su Doku)
Life has to be lived in full and no marks if exiting unfulfilled or insignificantly (Life)

(14)Depending on the choice you make you can choose the difficulty level of the game in the range as Random / Very Easy / Easy / Medium / Hard / Very Hard / Super Hard / Evil / Extreme. As can be expected, resources would be more for easy level of difficulty and scarcer as the level of difficulty escalates. (Su Doku)
Similarly, in life too, it is we who need to discover as to what level of difficulty we are in and try to solve patiently and with a calm disposition to grow and end up a winner. (Life)

Isn't it? Well, what do you think? You tell me!
(http://hemantha kalam.blogspot.in/2014/08/hemantha-kalam-26-life-is-su-doku.html?m=1)
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1518- Songs and emotions

1495- Yogesh Gupta's photo. Khajjiar, famous as mini switzerland, in himachal pradesh.

1491- Palais Du Grand.. central place in Brussels..

1463- 10 Easy Things That Will Make You Happier

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1. Exercise more – 7 minutes might be enough:
what it does to our brains,is releasing proteins and endorphins that make us feel happier

2. Sleep more – you’ll be less sensitive to negative emotions
sleep helps our bodies to recover from the day and repair themselves, and that it helps us focus and be more productive. It turns out, it’s also important for our happiness.

3. Move closer to work – a short commute is worth more than a big house:
We are happy when we have family, we are happy when we have friends and almost all the other things we think make us happy are actually just ways of getting more family and friends.Those who helped their friends and neighbors, advising and caring for others, tended to live to old age.

5. Go outside – happiness is maximized at 13.9°C:
one study found that spending 20 minutes outside in good weather not only boosted positive mood, but broadened thinking and improved working memory…

6. Help others –
100 hours a year (or two hours per week) is the optimal time we should dedicate to helping others in order to enrich our lives.

7. Practice smiling – it can alleviate pain:
Smiling itself can make us feel better, but it’s more effective when we back it up with positive thoughts, Use your smile to change the world. Don't let the world
change your smile.
8. Plan a trip – but don’t take one
In a study, the effect of vacation anticipation boosted happiness for eight weeks.
After the vacation, happiness quickly dropped back to baseline levels for most people.

9. Meditate – rewire your brain for happiness:
Meditation literally clears your mind and calms you down, it’s been often proven to be the single most effective way to live a happier live.

10. Practice gratitude – increase both happiness and life satisfaction:
There are lots of ways to practice gratitude, from keeping a journal of things you’re grateful for, sharing three good things that happen each day with a friend or your partner, and going out of your way to show gratitude when others help you.

Quick last fact: Getting older will make yourself happier:
So if you thought being old would make you miserable, rest assured that it’s likely you’ll develop a more positive outlook than you probably have now.
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1445- Hindi Songs & their Medical Meanings:-

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Jiya Jale Jaan Jale, Raat Bhar Dhuan Chale..
🚨– Fever

Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se Aah Nikalti Rahi..
🚨– Heart Attack

Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, Na Jaane Tum Kab Aoge..
🚨– Constipation

Bidi Jalayle Jigar Se Piya Jigar Ma Badi Aag Hai..
🚨– Acidity

Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai, Yaara Main Kya Karoon..
🚨– Cataract

Tuje Yaad Na Meri Aayi Kisi Se Ab Kya Kehna..
🚨– Alzheimer’s

Mann Dole Mera Tann Dole..
🚨– Vertigo

Tip-Tip Barsa Pani, Pani Ne Aag Lagayi..
🚨– Urinary Infection

Dil Dhadak-Dhadak Ke Keh Raha Hai..
🚨– Hypertension

Aaj Kal Paaon Zameen Par Nahi Padte Mere..
🚨– Corn On Feet

Haay-Re-Haay Neend Nahi Aaye..
🚨–Insomnia

Batana Bhi Nahi Aata, Chupana Bhi Nahi Aata..
🚨– Piles

And Sabse Mast

Lagi Aaj Saawan Ki Phir Wo Zadi Hai..
🚨– Loose Motion

Hasso ...
Beemari to purani hai - par msg naya hai!
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1430- BOOKS

1421- Beauty and India's contribution!

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Jaipur girl Koyal Rana has won the coveted Femina Miss India 2014 title at the 51st edition of the beauty pageant, defeating 24 other gorgeous finalists from across the country.

The 21-year-old diva will now represent India at the Miss World 2014 beauty pageant this year, hence joining the elite league of beauty queens like Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra, who brought laurels to the country by winning the international titles.

Koyal says after winning the Femina Miss India 2014 title her next target is Miss World.

________________________________
Reita Faria was the first Indian and Asian to be crowned Miss World in the year 1966.

 

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Now dubbed as the 'most beautiful woman in the world', Aishwarya Rai was just another face when she first set out to compete with the best at Miss World 1994.

Apart from winning the biggie, Aish also won the Miss Photogenic award and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty − Asia & Oceania. And why not!

 

 

Having starred in Hollywood films such as 'Mistress of Spices', 'The Last Legion' and 'Pink Panther 2', it's only fair to call Aishwarya the global face of India.

 

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 It was 'THE' moment for beauty queen Sushmita Sen when the name for Miss Universe 1994 was announced.
She was the youngest of the 77 contestants and won a million hearts with her ideologies in
life.Boasting of a very healthy mix of beauty and brains, Sushmita answered the final question - 'What is the essence of a woman?' - with utmost care. She said, 'Just being a woman is God's gift. The origin of a child is a mother, a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring and loving is all about. That is the essence of a woman.'

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At 18, Priyanka didn't do a great job with the final question which eventually won her the Miss World crown in 2000.
She was asked: 'Who do you think is the most successful woman living today and why?' To which she answered: 'There are a lot of people I admire, but one of the most admirable people is Mother Teresa, who has been so compassionate, considerate and kind.'

Mother Teresa passed away on September 5, 1997.
Apart from winning the prestigious Miss World title, Priyanka also bagged the Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty - Asia & Oceania title.Priyanka immediately shifted course to Bollywood and went on to feature in box-office hits such as 'Andaaz', 'Mujhse Shaadi Karoge' and 'Aitraaz'. She is now one of the most sought after actresses, thanks to films like 'Fashion' and 'Barfi'.

 

 

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 With a mind and face like hers, it was a given she would win the Miss Universe title in 2001. Post her win, she was appointed as the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001.
The gorgeous Lara then moved to Hindi cinema and was an instant hit. Although her film career took a nose dive after the first few years, she managed to stay in the news.
Lara tied the knot with tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi. They have a daughter - Saira.

 

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The terrific trio.

The year 2000 was a glorious year as it saw 3 beautiful faces represent India on global platforms. Lara Dutta charmed all when she won Miss Universe, while Priyanka Chopra did us proud with her Miss World title. Dia Mirza, arguably the most beautiful face we have ever seen, wasn't behind as she bagged the Miss Asia-Pacific title with much ease.
Dia holds the distinction of being the first Indian to win the Miss Asia Pacific title since 1973. The first being evergreen actress Zeenat Aman.

 

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Diana Hayden is the third Indian to have won the Miss World crown in 1997,after Reita Faria (1966) and Aishwarya Rai (1994).
Unlike her peers, Diana moved to London to study acting. She stayed away from Bollywood but did appear in TV reality show 'Bigg Boss 2".

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Aditi Gowitrikar might not have pursued a film career seriously, but she did a good job of winning the Mrs World title in 2001.
Did you know she is also a doctor? Multi-faceted, we say!

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Those were the best days!
Two years after Diana Hayden's win, Yukta Mookhey won the Miss World title in 1999.
Unlike some of the other Miss World winners, Yukta couldn't strike gold in movies and so stayed away from media glare until recently when she filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband in July, 2013.

 

 

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Manasvi Mamgai won Miss Tourism International in 2008.

 

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This Bangalore chick, Nicole Faria, did us proud when she won Miss Earth 2010, and became the first Indian to win the title. 

 

  (via India Syndicate)

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Himangini Singh Yadu won the Miss Asia Pacific World title last year.

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1390- A collection of thoughts on discovering "Binaca Geetmala" listings on the web:

BARDWAJ RANGAN 
(The Hindu, Metroplus,29.03.2014)
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...Nostalgia tugging at me, that brought about this post.

...the show was on, from 1953 (top song: ‘Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai’) to 1993 (top song: ‘Choli Ke Peechhe’)? Take those two numbers as bookends of an era, and you have a sociological treatise right there.

There’s something about listening to songs on the radio, with no visuals to “corrupt” the music. It’s music as music should be heard. There’s a reason that that Al Stewart song went ‘You’re On My Mind, Like A Song On The Radio...’ The inability to control what’s being played...

The show wasn’t about the quality of the music, which is a pretty personal thing in any case. My meat, your poison, et cetera. This was about popularity, which can be measured far more objectively. As the site says, the yearly lists were compiled on the basis of record sales (records — remember them?), listener votes, the verdicts of record store owners, and so forth. So I can insist all I want that, from 1970, ‘Na Koi Umang Hai’ (Kati Patang) or ‘Mai Ri’ (Dastak) are far better songs than the Binaca Geetmala topper, ‘Bindiya Chamkegi’ (Do Raaste) — but the people have had their say, the music industry’s answer to the box-office has spoken. You cannot argue with cold numbers.

Still, it’s hard not to wince on seeing that, in 1971, ‘Chal Chal Chal Mere Haathi’ (Haathi Mere Saathi) occupied the slot above ‘Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli’ (Anand)...

...You can string together the words of the top 5 hits of 1973 and make a song that sounds kinda naughty and sad at the same time: ‘Yaari Hai Imaan Mera Yaar...’ ‘Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein...’ ‘Do Bechaare Bina Sahaare...’ ‘Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si Palkon Pe...’ ‘Samjhauta Ghamon Se Kar Lo’.

...I’m looking at the 1974 list and wondering if any other music director had the success and the longevity of SD Burman — in the sense of big banners, big-name directors, hit films, and (still-popular) hit songs, from the 1940s till the mid-1970s. A year before he died, he had ‘Yeh Laal Rang’, ‘Meet Na Mila Re Man Ka’ and ‘Saala Main To Sahib Ban Gaya’ on the charts.

I’m looking at Song No. 19 from 1975 — ‘My Heart Is Beating’, from Julie — and thinking how cool this song must have sounded to college kids back then, as they swept the streets with their bell-bottoms.

And just as you’re congratulating yourself on your superior taste and issuing pitiful looks at listeners from long ago for picking songs on the sole criterion of being easily hummable, you’ll get a splash of cold water — courtesy No. 32 of 1976, ‘Koi Aaya Aane Bhi De’, from Kala Sona. This is one of those acrobatic RD Burman-Asha Bhosle collaborations (with overlapping voices yet) that, if plotted on a stock market graph, would suggest a crash and a boom every other second. Perhaps the listener votes came from memories of Helen and Parveen Babi gyrating in Egyptian costumes, with bejewelled belly buttons, which were all the rage then.

I was so pleased to see that the top number of 1978 was the title song of Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se. One, it’s a sweet, sweet melody; proof that all you need, really, is a good tune and a tabla. Two, it’s by Ravindra Jain, who had a lovely little run in the 1970s. It’s nice to see him up there.

The 1980 list is topped by a song that I hate, hate, hate: ‘Dafli Waale Dafli Baja’. It’s amazing how you haven’t heard a song in years, maybe decades, but when you see it listed, the tune comes back to you as if you heard it yesterday. I’m talking about ‘Kaali Ghata Chhaayi Prem Rut Aayi’, the Number 34 of 1980.
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1351- YOLO people! Yodo people!

That’s the acronym for "You Only Live Once". A contender for the 2012 Oxford American Dictionary’s ‘word of the year’, the YOLO philosophy is gaining momentum and has become more popular than ever.Times Life finds out why…

Do you believe in "Carpe Diem"?
Live every day as if it were your last! Charter into unknown territory even if it’s fraught with risks so that you get to learn something new! Then you are in a state of YOLO, the acronym for ‘You Only Live Once’. Over the past couple of years, this word has gained momentum in the daily rhetoric of teens, young adults and social media junkies. But today, it has earned a place in pop-culture lexicons and our daily lives.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
A research by University of Missouri, US, revealed when people realise that life is scarce, they focus more on positive things and appreciate everything around them. More importantly, they challenge their fears.

MAKE YOLO A RECOGNISED RELIGION:
Last year, during census time in New Zealand, many citizens started a campaign to make this philosophy a religion, by filling out YOLO under the ‘religion’ section in their forms!

ITS HISTORY:
Though YOLO has been used casually for years, the word became popular after Canadian music artiste Drake featured it in his hip hop single The Motto (2011). After that, Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron got a tattoo with the acronym. Since then, several web enthusiasts have taken to using meme generator tools to create and share images that promote the YOLO trend. Twitter users commonly use the hashtag YOLO to tweet about their once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

CAUTION:
Sociologist Shiv Visvanathan comments, “YOLO is like bungee jumping. It only gives you a temporary high. Unlike other risks that you take in life, decisions taken under this philosophy are not calculated risks; it’s more like let’s party all night, because you live only once! This cultural epidemic may help you gratify your short-term goals but won’t benefit you in the long run.”
One needs to remember that while life is short, in the quest to enjoy it to the fullest, one shouldn’t hurt oneself or others, physically, emotionally and mentally.

THE ANTITHESIS
To keep YOLO in check, a counter-philosophy called YODO (You Only Die Once) is also making its presence felt. It means just like you live once, you also die once, so stop living precariously.

(Times LIFE, TOI, 23:02:2014)

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1346- A primer to help you pick a phone that’s right for you

HOW TO BUY A SMARTPHONE

Shopping for a new handset? Great! You can finally buy that device you’ve always wanted. But how do you navigate through jargon like dual- and quad-core, GHz, mAh, and megapixels? What makes one operating system different from the other?  read

 – Savio D’Souza (TOI, February 09, 2014)

(1)OPERATING SYSTEM Make no mistake, it’s the OS that puts the ‘smart’ in your smartphone, so before buying, it’s always a good idea to know about the different ecosystems that exist… The Android OS promises native integration with Google services that include Search, Gmail, Maps, Hangouts, YouTube, etc. Besides, you get access to over a million apps in its Play store. The best part? Titles that might be paid downloads on iOS and Windows Phone are sometimes available for free here. Another advantage of an Android handset is that these are plug-and-play. You can simply connect it to your PC via a USB cable to begin transferring files to and from the device with zero hassles. Also, you can choose from phones—costing as less as 4,000 right to those that are priced at over 50k—from vendors such as HTC, LG, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, and even from local players like Karbonn, Lava, Micromax, Spice and Xolo. Just remember, Android versions are alphabetically named, and the latest in the market are Jelly Bean and Kit-Kat. Make sure you’re putting your money on either of these. Windows Phone is now playing catch-up with Android and iOS – and at last count, its app store just had over two lakh titles. Still, most popular apps have already made their way to this platform. Also, WP handsets in India primarily come from Nokia – and while the OS needs improvements, you get really good hardware for the price you pay. Plus, these devices come with subscriptions to free content like music and movies (depending on the model you buy), and also Here Maps and Drive+, which are arguably the best map and navigation services in the country. iOS, only found in iPhones, is extremely intuitive to use – and since Apple vets every title that makes it to its App store, you’re promised high-quality digital content in the form of educational material, music, videos and apps. The OS itself promises smooth operations, and you’ll find very rare instances of iPhones freezing during use. On the downside, you’ll have to use iTunes to connect the handset to your PC, and this can prove to be quite annoying. And yes, only buy from local authorised dealers; iPhones picked up from abroad are not covered under local warranty.
 
(2)PROCESSORS When shopping, you are bound to hear about dual-core, quad-core, and even octacore processors. But what should you put your money on?
    While a greater number of cores are supposedly better, it does not give you a true picture of how a smartphone may perform. Why? Well, not all cores are designed identically. UK-based ARM, which designs these chips, licenses different architectures – with names such as Cortex A5, A7, A8, A9, A12, A15 – to manufacturers. Here, higher numbers mean better chips. In effect, a phone that uses a quad-core A15 will definitely be more advanced than a handset with a quad-core A5. In fact, there might be instances where dual-core processors might fare better than quad-core chips.
    Also, a lot of how a processor performs depends on how the OS utilises its abilities. So an iPhone on a dual-core processor could be a better performer than many quad-core Android phones.
    That said, these are some of the names you can expect to hear when shopping…
    Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 600 and 800 chips, Samsung’s octacore Exynos, and Apple’s dual-core A7 (found on the iPhone 5s, and not to be confused with ARM’s Cortex series) are the top dogs in this market.
    Devices like the Nokia Lumias use mid-range dual-core Qualcomm S4 chipsets that are also seen in handsets like the Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro and the Sony Experia M. Older iPhones use a dualcore A6 processor (again, not to be confused with ARM Cortex).
    In the mid- to low-price brackets, you’ll find dual-core Intel Atom chips, the quadcore MediaTek MT6589, and Qualcomm’s dual-core Snapdragon 200 and 400.
 
(3)DISPLAY The best way to judge a smartphone’s screen is to look at it from different angles for changes in colour, and also in varying lighting conditions for visibility.
    Invest in a Full HD (1080p) display if you’re buying a phablet. On the other hand, HD (720p) screens work well for devices up to five inches in size. On smaller devices, load a web page to see if the text is crisp, and can be read without any strain to your eyes. In any case, avoid smartphones with lesser than WVGA (800x480px) resolution. AMOLED screens are best when it comes to displaying punchy colours. LCD screens with IPS technology comes a close second, while TFT LCDs should be avoided if you can. 

(4)RAM It’s plain and simple: more RAM is always better.

(5)STORAGE We carry our world – e-mails, social networks, photographs, videos, music – with us on our smartphones, so when buying, always budget for a phone that comes with ample storage.
    Generally, if a phone lists its capacity as 8GB, only about 6.5GB will be available to the user. So if you need 4GB, buy a phone with 8 to 16GB.
    More megapixels and HD video recording capabilities result in images and videos that occupy more space. Also, if you plan on watching Full HD movies on your phone, ensure you have at least 32GB storage.
    If possible, opt for a model that supports microSD cards of up to 64GB so you can always add more memory when you need it.
 
(6)SIZE In our experience, a screen of four to five inches works well for most purposes.
    A phone that has a screen bigger than five inches could be slightly uncomfortable to use with one hand. Also keep in mind that big-screen phones are heavy, and can be uncomfortable to carry in your pocket.
    On the flip side, large screens allow for a better experience while watching movies, playing games and browsing the web.
 
(7)CAMERA A 5MP camera is capable of 8x6-inch prints even at 300dpi (dots per inch), which is the standard resolution used in professional printing.
    So, if you’re looking for a good camera phone, dump the idea that more megapixels will give you better pictures. Instead, look for phones that boast of good camera optics (go for devices that come with Carl Zeiss lens). Remember, a high-resolution camera with a low-quality lens will only give you low-quality pictures in high resolution.
    In any case, if you need a snapper only for photos you’d like to share on social networks or Instagram, a 10MP camera phone is going to be overkill.
    Opt for cameras with BSI (backside illumination) sensors for better low-light photography; make sure it comes with an LED flash.
    In our experience, if you want a good shooter, you have to shell out extra bucks. Good photos are a result of adequate megapixels, good lens and sensor technology, as well as high-end processor chipsets. The Nokia Lumia 1520, 1020 and 925, the Apple iPhones, the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and S4 Zoom, LG G2, and HTC One are known for their good snappers.
    For your front-facing camera, one megapixel is more than adequate.
 
(8)BATTERY You may have the best hardware at your disposal, but if you keep running out of battery, your handset is quite useless…
    Bigger screens, extra cores, and more sensors mean greater power consumption. If you’re considering a smartphone over 4.5-inches in size, look at devices that come with at least a 2000mAh (milliamp-hour) battery. The higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last.
    If possible, select devices that come with lithiumpolymer batteries over lithium-ion. The former are lighter, and also retain their charge for longer.
    And yes, preferably, buy a device that comes with a user-replaceable battery (although a handset like the Lenovo P780, which comes with a 4000mAh non-removable li-polymer battery, could prove to be an exception to the rule).
 
Note: Established brands tend to have better after sales service. But if you’re opting for a handset from a lesser-known manufacturer, check for its service centres in your city. A web search about a company’s track record should give you a fair idea if the organisation is in a position to meet its warranty commitments. (With inputs from Javed Anwer) 
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