Long time... Nothing really has changed...

I almost forgot about this place. Not anymore. I will make new posts surface like scams of politicians. I guess, I went into the MMS mode for a few days. But, unlike MMS, I can't really control my lips. I need to speak, and speak out loud, whatever it might be.

Today, I started to study for an exam. The fun thing is, I have to study 4 thick and big books, and appear for 4 exams this Saturday and Sunday. I was under the impression that, the "Engineering Instinct" within me was still intact. The truth is: "It's all gone". And now, I am nowhere, clueless about how I will pass the exams. Anyway, that's boring, isn't it?

The interesting thing? Ummm.. Well, nothing new as such. But, new things would pour in soon, as I rise and shine again after the exams. All this exams affair, are here to stay for some time. So, every few months, I need to study a little bit, and somehow jump over to the next semester. And if I am good at clearing those mighty walls, I could call myself an MS in Software Systems in roughly 2 years from now.

For now, back to studies. I will be coming back soon. :)

Tejas won't be ready before 2015

For those, who are not aware, Tejas, is a lightweight, multi-role fighter being developed by HAL, India. It is a tailless, compound delta-wing design powered by a single engine. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, which began in 1980s to replace India's aging MIG-21 fighters.

It integrates technologies such as relaxed static stability, fly-by-wire flight control system, advanced digital cockpit, multi-mode radar, integrated digital avionics system, advanced composite material structures and a flat rated engine.

I sometimes wonder, how a few adjectives make a really great impact. I mean, I don't really understand what exactly does the "integrated digital avionics system" mean. What the hell it is integrated with, and do we still have to call a computer "non-digital" in today's world?

"Advanced Composite material", it doesn't exactly say what it does. Seems that, it uses some material, some sort of wood perhaps, mixed with soil, and the mixture is what they refer to the "Advanced Composite Material".

It was supposed to reach final operational clearance in 2013, and now it seems that it won't be ready before 2015.

Well, you know, where I stay in Bangalore, my place is a few footsteps away from HAL campus. And, randomly, and very frequently, you could hear a deafening sound all around my place. For the first few days, I thought that sound could be coming from some construction work nearby. But, soon enough, I figured that the sound's origin was probably from the HAL campus. Well, I don't really know, because, NAL (National Aerospcae Laboratories) is also nearby. But, I think HAL guys have started testing the Tejas so-called "flat-rated" engine, since, 2015 is not very very far.

Oh, and by the way, there's yet another organization in close vicinity to the HAL and the NAL campus. It's called the ADA ( Aeronautical Development Agency). And there's yet another one, called the ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment).

A small story regarding the engine: Initially the engine was planned to be developed indigenously, and a factory was also set up for the same. However, after a few years, the scientists realized that they just couldn't do it. So, they procured it from GE. Those factories are still working on something though, perhaps, trying to copy brand new engines to make the indigenous ones.

Why the hell am I writing about this? 30 years is a long long time. And Tejas, on the face of it, doesn't seem to be completed in the near future. I guess, they will end up buying some sub-standard outdated fighters from someone. And all the money spent in it's research and development would go down the drains.

As if the ever rising corruption wasn't enough, on the other hand,  the government machinery doesn't even think before wasting it's citizens' hard-earned money. I do agree, that there has been a lot of in the field of space and satellite research, but it's still negligible to the amount of money being spent. We can do better than this for sure. But until we realize or accept that we need to improve, the change is a far away, farther than I can imagine.

Cooking classes

Looks like I am not a bad cook at all. I haven't been taking classes, but the food I cook tastes good. Here are some pictures.

Masoor Daal

Poha - Breakfast

You have to forgive me for not writing down the recipe. Sorry, I don't know the names of half of the ingredients I use.

The olden golden days

Long back, when we are just out of college, and had joined our first jobs, fun had a different meaning. The times were different. The friends we had were different. The places we visited were different.

This photo was taking at the Brigade road, during the Diwali celebrations in the year 2007. You can see two friends of mine on that bike. And I was on a bike as well when this photo was taken. I think I had clicked this photo.

Vishal and Felix on that bike. On the other side, I think it was Kunal and Me. Not very sure.

I came across this photo today. I vividly remembered me taking this photo, or may be Kunal, but, with time, had forgotten about those days. It's been at-least 2 years now that I have stepped into the Brigade Road. And yeah, I am still in Bangalore. Friends from those days are now far far away. I get to talk to them over Facebook, phone, Gtalk etc. But, then we don't have that kind of fun anymore. It might be just me. Other's might be enjoying their new life for sure.

This is yet another photo from the yesteryears. Weekends meant one thing. BEER and lots of it...... And House No. 420 in Koramangala 8th block. Sometimes, I miss those days. Those were really crazy days. Want to go back to the Olden Golden Days for sometime.

Conversations and her

She is either very intelligent, or just loves to show off her arguing powers. One day, out of nowhere, she wanted to test me. Usually, I lose the argument, irrespective of the topic of the discussion. Here we go.

A chat transcript.

She: Did you see a soul-mate (past, present and future) when you first looked into my eyes?

I instantly knew that I cannot afford to be outright truthful here. Didn't reply for a long time, pondering over my course of action, and also anticipating the possible repercussions.

She: (Impatient) You didn't answer my question.
He: (Oh no.. Not again!!) Ummm, No.
She: No? You did not see a soul-mate in me? You are lying.
Me: (Trying to be funny, to divert her) Living life with you is enough. I don't want to linger around with you after we become ghosts.

She: You are saying that we were not together in our previous births?
Me: I don't remember. (Trying to remember harder as ever)
She: And you don't want to be with me in your next birth?
Me: Global warming, everything will be over soon. So, I am not thinking about my next birth. :)

She: Oh...
She: Okay ("Ok" would have been fine, but "Okay" is a sign of the approaching storm)
She: (She was reading a book just before we started this conversation) Then, I guess, I will read my book.
Me: Hahahahaha
She: Huh!!!

And after that, we had to continue this discussion over the phone and finally reach a conclusion, well, not exactly, but to a point where she can go back to reading her book normally, and me, well, telling myself, "A job well done" and gave myself a pat on my back. :D I won this time. Yay!!!