What's Ahead?

It is human nature to be curious about the future. As we get close to the end of this gloomy year 2009, predictions for 2010 are pouring in from various sources. How far these predictions will come true is anybody's guess. Take a look at some the predictions made ten years ago for 2010:

• "Smellyvision' ... technology will be available to plant microchips loaded with chemicals into our TVs so we can enjoy the aromas that go with fashion, cookery, travel and gardening."
  

• "Kids' dolls, trucks and other toys will use artificial intelligence to talk and "evolve" with your child as he grows, a process you'll be able to track dramatically with holographic photos."
  

• "Land line phones will be a thing of the past."
  

• "There will probably be a single international currency."
  

One thing seems most likely - 3D television will enter the market with both Sky and Panasonic indicating that they will release 3D TVs.

While most of us are concerned about what's ahead in 2010, it is amusing to read the following past predictions on technology in an interesting article in WSJ.

2005: "Next Christmas, the iPod will be dead, finished, gone, kaput" - Sir Alan Sugar, British entrepreneur.

1981: " No one will need more than 637 kb of memory for a personal computer" - Bill Gates

1977: " There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home" - Ken Olsen, founder of mainframe-producer Digital Equipment Corpn.

1959: "The world potential for copying machines is 5,000 at most" - IBM executives to the eventual founders of Xerox.

1946: "Television won't be able to hold on to any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night," Darryl Zanuck, 20th Century Fox.

Whether predictions come true or not, they certainly provide entertainment to many of us. Let's enjoy them.

Wishing everybody a very Happy New Year!

Six Questions and Answers

Going through life's good and bad times, I have often asked many questions to myself. I am sure many others do the same, especially when facing tough times. I have short-listed six commonly asked questions and tried to answer them drawing from my own experience and some advice taken from the internet. Here they go:

Q1. Sometimes not succeeding fast like others seems to hurt me. What should I do?

Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead (direction) is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead of others. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Q2. In tough times, how do I stay motivated?

Always count your blessings, not what you are missing. Be happy at what life has offered you such as a decent living, good health, a family, good friends. Always look at how far you have come in life rather than how far you have to go. Believe in yourself strongly.

Q3. Why do I have to face problems?

Problems are "Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength."

Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards. Consider problems as opportunities for learning. So, face problems to get experience and knowledge.

Q4. But why me?

When people suffer they ask, "why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Remember you are not the only one with problems in this vast world. There are people in far worse situations.

Q5. Why has life become complicated now?

Stop analyzing life. Just take it as it comes to you and live it. Probing it and analysis is what makes it complicated. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become a habit with many people. That's why they are not happy.

Avoid whiners and associate with people who think and talk positively.

Q6. How can I get the best out of life?

Face your past without regret. No point in crying over spilt milk. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

The Melodious Month of Margazhi

December 16, 2009.

Today is the first day of Margazhi - the Tamil month that begins in the middle of December. Legends speak about Margazhi as the favourite month of the Gods. Many temples open up quite early in the morning for the ritual worship and devotees singing in praise of the Lord.

Margazhi also marks the end of the rainy days in parts of South India and the beginning of the Carnatic Music Season. In Chennai, the day typically starts with melodious carnatic music from the radio and television stations. Newspapers and magazines talk of music on their front pages. Sabhas announce a series of music, dance and other cultural programs by well-known artists. Bhajan groups become hyper-active with early morning Bhajan singing in a street procession. In some places, streets get decorated with colorful kolams decked with flowers. The whole month is full of celebrations and gaiety.

It is the right season for the lover of Carnatic music - a form of music that takes the music lover to ecstasy and stirs the deepest wells of emotion. Most of Carnatic music blends into devotion (Bhakti). Its melody is something that has to be experienced over a period of time; and Margazhi is the best month to enjoy the melody of this divine music. Over 50,000 listeners assemble in various halls in and around Chennai to listen to thousands of concerts by hundreds of musicians - all in the few weeks of Margazhi rightly called as the "Music Season" or just "Season." a matter of a few weeks. The Season has now become one of the world’s largest musical events.

In recent years, technology has enabled to share the melodious music with people living in various parts of the world. Through satellites and the internet, music lovers can enjoy the melodious music sitting in their homes thousands of miles away from the performers. Digital systems, mp3 players, sophisticated sound systems and online downloads are great blessings to the present day communities - something our ancestors missed.

Another trend that I see in recent years is the growing interest and participation by younger people in music programs. There are many teenagers entering the world of Carnatic music.

Carnatic follows a melodic system based on seven primary notes (12 tonal positions including the flats and sharps). The stress is on melody, the pleasant sensation coming together from different pitches called Ragams following a set of rules or "grammar of the music." However, a ragam is much more than this. Singers inject life into the Ragam through a technique called gamakam, the shaking of a note to sound neighbouring microtones. So, a ragam does not progress as a discrete series of individual notes but in a smoothly gliding journey from one note to another. And it must be learnt, by practice and dedicated listening. Estimates indicate there are over 34,000 ragas. Only a few hundred are sung regularly.

Enjoy the melodious Carnatic music in this glorious month of Margazhi. If you are not a fan of Carnatic music, why not make a beginning now?