A storm is on the way!!

As per the information available now, a devastating storm is getting formed in Calicut university examination center and it is on its way to attack we all, innocent students. Can't predict anything about its nature. Sometimes may be sooo violent with thunder, lightning and rainfall. Can it be cool raindrops?? :) Chances are rare..

Who all are going to be the victims of this wild wind?? Who all are going to be affected soo badly?? Who all survive this worst severe weather?? There is a chance of the suspected area being unaffected also. For our luck, sometimes it may leave without causing much havoc and destructions... Its all our fate!!

Weather forecasting center says that the storm will be in its full swing by March 25th and it lasts till April 8th. After that, it is going to be a pleasant climate till our next exam series :)

Yes.. our third semester exams are going to have a start on March 25th and end on April 8th. A very pleasing climate follows it.. The first 10 days will be soooo more colourful for me.. I'm sure about that..

My brother is coming home for this Vishu. I'm really excited, you know. Knew this happy news only yesterday. Never expected this!! The only thing is, he'll be here only for 10 days starting from April 10th. Now I'm waiting just to finish off all my exams and be with chettan and enjoy.. 22 days more for his arrival!!

Actually, this is going to be a Vishu with we all 4 at home, after a long gap of 5 yrs..

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS: An exam fever has started to storm me!! Anyway, all the best for my friends. Get prepared to face any adverse effects of the storm in the worst way.

It's time to start again..

Study leave for our third semester exams starts tomorrow onwards, eventhough the dates have not been yet declared by the University. The rumour we heard is that exams commence on March 25th. God only knows!!

You know, how much Calicut university lags behind the other universities in conducting exams and publishing results. Phew!!! In all other Universities, students of our same batch are now waiting for the declaration of S4 exams.. As far as I know, in MG and CUSAT it has already been declared. And here, we waiting for dates of S3 exams.

Our S3 classes closed in the last week of November '07 and S4 classes commenced on Dec 3rd. And now it's March.. Oh, a long gap of 3 months!! Our condition is really pitiable.. pathetic.. Is it so?

Anyway, time to start again.. No idea from where to start and how to start.. Seems like an ocean.. Has to start from the scratch :( Fully blank abt the topics for exams!! I guess, I've forgotten to study. And so, as commencement, firstly I've to study - 'how to study'. And then only start studying.. Hmm.. that'll be better.

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS: All the best for all my friends who all are in the same state of mine - complete blankness :)

????

"People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want''

Read this just now and it seemed interesting to be posted here.

Signing off,

Hailstone.

Cute little girl..

She is my neighbour, who is one and a half years old now. A daily visitor at my home. Her charming little face, wide open eyes, plumpy cheeks, and innocent smile make her the star of this locality.. A child with intolerably cute mannerisms.. So... energetic and lovely always.

She is so naughty and don't like to be there inside her home for a long. She just wants to loiter around .. And so, her grandpa is having really a hard time, taking her here and there. She has just started walking slowly. Daily from 5 to 7, she goes for an evening walk with grandpa..

Their first destination is 'Nellayi junction'. Goes there, watches and closely observes everything and everyone she could see there. On the way back, have chit-chats(?? - in an unknown language) with everyone who passes by. Next destination is the temple..


............................................."Miles and miles to go before I sleep".....................................

In the return journey passing infront of my home, she pulls her grandpa, directing him to my home. So, the next halting terminal is here. That old man is happy, since he could take rest, for a little time.. And the girl is much more happy.. That shrill voice created from her shoe signals us that she is coming. You know, what she does.. Goes around all the rooms, rambling in search of me calling 'akka'(chechi). Often I hide somewhere and make sounds to play with her and for making her running with great joy towards me..

She has started talking.. That too some words, not complete sentences. We know that she's saying something. But usually, we don't understand anything. Get a feeling of hearing some unfamiliar language. She's so font of making a mess everwhere. And so, pulls down everything she get in her hand, like books, paper, table cloth etc.. Makes attempt to climb over all the chairs, tables etc.. Soooo naughty she is!!! Somebody should be with her always.. otherwise..:)

Her favourite place in my home....


Whatever we do, she tries to imitate us. Keep on shrieking, informing others that 'I'm here'. Getting bored, she takes her shoe, sits near me and shows some actions ordering me to help her in putting it. After that, starts walking, pulling her grandpa's hands again calling out 'ttaa ttaa' with a naive smile on her face.

It's really so nice to watch her deeds. I love playing with her.

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS: Her name is Kavya.

I sympathise!!

It's so desparate that many parents are having over expectations regarding the future of their children. This might disturb the easy going life of many students. It's true that parents' expectations have powerful effects on children's academic performance. I agree with that. But some of them are pressurizing their children with over burden.

Today, what triggered me to write this, is the conversation, I had in the morning with my music teacher. She's so much worried about her son's future. The boy is now studying in 10th standard. It's a fact that he is not so bright in his acads, but not that bad, I guess.

That boy is a very good violinist and a good singer too, who has done many violin concerts on many stages. He participated in State Youth festival. The parents' main intention was to make him get an A-Grade in any one of the items, so that he'll be getting 30 marks additional in Board exam. And he managed to fulfill their dream.

That mother always tells him - 'study, study and study' and complains others about his studies, that too infront of him. How much he would get pricked!!! Another funny thing is that she asks me to advice him to study :)

Just now one more related instance came to my mind. It's about one among my cousin sisters, who is now studying in 9th standard. She was an energetic girl, who has now became a dispirited, calm and quiet girl.

Her parents are injecting her with those stuffs containing in quiz books and GK books. She's winning prizes too. It's some kind of spoonfeeding. Taking her to leadership development courses, abc quiz, xyz quiz, I dont know what kind of pleasure they are getting!!

She doesn't know how to mingle with others, totally in a socially inept condition. Always sitting inside the home, reading, studying or watching TV. I pity her. No... I pity her parents and feel sympathy for her. She doesn't know what she is missing/loosing. She's happy with her life inside that 4 walls. Parents have succeeded in convincing her - the whole student life is like 'this'

Many parents are like this. The whole happiness lies in their kid getting good marks and becoming school/class topper. And nothing more than that. It's good, I agree. But should try to find happiness in other matters too. They are not trying to know the potential of their children. They're not bothered about the strain taken by their dear ones. I agree that they're giving enough input. But it's something like pouring water in to a bottle, not knowing it's capacity, atleast in a few cases.

They are ready to do anything for the academical progress of their son/daughter. Not at all bothered about the growth of mind. Unknowingly, they are spoiling children's most enjoyable season of life, during which they should get enough freedom to play and run around like butterflies. And thus spoiling their future in one way or other.

Attention from parents' side is good, provided they realise children's abilities and potential . But beyond a limit, it wont do good.

I know, this is not a case with many families. Just thought of it and felt like writing.

Anyway, Thank God for giving me and my brother such wonderful parents.

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS.1: Sorry, that I made you read a little lenghty post (meant for only those who read completely).
PS.2: No hard feelings.. Didn't want to criticise/blame anyone.

The mystique of Makarajyothi continues....

While watching the live telecast of 'Makaravilakku' celebration at Sabarimala, I was really wondered to see the crowd there. Millions of pilgrims from far and wide are reaching there every year, only for witnessing the celestial light called 'Makarajyothi' appering on Makara Sankaranthi.

Staunch believers of Swamy Ayyappan believe that the jyothi appears miraculously for blessing the devotees. They believe that witnessing this light brings them good luck and divine blessings. I saw it appearing 3times in the forest, with a few seconds interval between each appearance.

A divine star is believed to appear on the sky, just before sighting Makarajyothi. The whole thing lasts for a maximum of 1 minute!! And for that, how many people, ranging from small kids to aged ones reach there!!

Another argument is that 'Makara Jyothi' is an artificial fire lit by Sabarimala officials and Devaswom board, for their monetary benefits. Are they cheating these all millions of devotees?? It is said that they are lighting camphor, taken in large quantity, inside the forest and lifting it thrice. And the most important thing is no Puranas have mentioned anything about this 'celestial miraculous Jyothi'. So, it should be true.. right?? What you all say about this?

Some others believe that the Jyothi is the Arati performed by the rishis and devas residing in the hills!!! Happened to see an article in 'Kalakaumudi'. Here is it..

Is this a reality or cheating?

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS: I'm not an atheist. No personal interests to hurt the feelings of believers.

The Golden chance we got..

It's only after reaching the campus today morning, we decided to set out for attending Richard M Stallman's talk which was held at UC College, Alwaye.

After 2 hours journey from Thrissur, we, 10 of us from our class reached there at around 11.15 in the morning. By then the lecture had started. Though the auditorium was almost houseful, we managed to get seats in the last row.

The talk was on "Free software in ethics and in practice". For the next 2 hrs, we had an interesting, inspiring speech on Free software. To be frank, I had to strain a little to understand his 'katta' english, because his unfamiliar accent :( Didn't get him word by word. But he could convey all his views to each and everyone of us.

He started with the drawbacks of Microsoft Windows, obviously in a sarcastic manner. Then talked about the merits of free software, regarding copyleft, emacs and many other topics too. Told about 'how and why schools should act to popularise software freedom'. Also told that we could be proud since Kerala is far above all other states in India.

Photo taken by Bristo with his camera in mobile --

"GNU/Linux respects other's freedom"

"Reject proprietary software and insist free software"

"Dont let others to have control over our freedom/power"

The description about RMS I saw there:

he started the Free Software Foundation..
he started the GNU Project..
he wrote the GCC Compiler..
he wrote the GDB Debugger..
he wrote the emacs editor..
he is a philosopher..

After the formal meeting was over, we, with 7 of our super seniors, waited to meet him personally and to invite him to our great GEC. We had to wait there for some time. Ours was the only group of students who got the chance to talk with him, that too so friendly.

For our unfortunate, he said he would not be available to come over here in the whole year 2008. Anyway, we asked his contact details and he, with pleasure, gifted his card to one among us(Devidas) and left.

Really a thrilling and inspiring experience it was!!

From there we went to Alwaye town, walked around there in search of a good hotel :) and had food finally. After that, had a short visit to Merlin's uncle's house. After having some snacks from there, we started our return journey and reached home at 6.15 in the evening.

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS: An interesting thing which I noticed just now - My Chettan and RMS celebrate their birthdays on the same day - March 16 :)