Illusion

Leaning Tower Illusion

The two images of the Leaning Tower of Pisa are identical, yet one has the impression that the tower on the right leans more, as if photographed from a different angle. The reason for this is because the visual system treats the two images as if part of a single scene. Normally, if two adjacent towers rise at the same angle, their image outlines converge as they recede from view due to perspective, and this is taken into account by the visual system. So when confronted with two towers whose corresponding outlines are parallel, the visual system assumes they must be diverging as they rise from view, and this is what we see.

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Power

The evergreen problem of India - Power. Here, I mean Electricity.

India currently has an installed capacity of 1,27,000 MW and already we are facing electricity shortages and blackouts. There is an estimate of 11 to 18 percent shortage in the near future. While China adds appox. 70,000 MW every year, India has added hardly 22,000 MW in the last 5 yrs. Let us not get into the reasons, mainly being political.

A recent article on Deccan Herald talked of using small measures to save electricity from being spent. This spoke of saving electricity rather than generating new power. The concept called 'negawatts' uses the theory of efficient management of energy. From switching to sunlight during the day to turning off TVs when on standby, such was the concept.

Of course, I believe in small droplets making an ocean, but looking at the current level of growth both in the economy, with more and more industries being setup, and the never ending population spurt, the ocean needs a downpour and not drops. Electricity needs to be produced.

But how? Thermal Power?
A recent debate on the Nagarjuna thermal plant near Udupi shows that the ash from the burnt coal pollutes the aquatic life in the sea (being the waste disposed into the sea) or the ground water of the surrounding areas get polluted. If they get released into the air, the Amazon of India, the Western Ghats would be affected. Not to forget, the western ghats have the rarest species of flora and fauna not found anywhere else in the country.

Are we ready to compromise mother nature in the name of development? Or due we take a cue from Nature herself, just like a small place like Malavalli Biomass Power plant has done?

Yes, I believe that nature has answers to all our questions. Malavalli Biomass plant is located in rural Karnataka in Mandya district. This plant locally accumulates crop residues which are otherwise burnt by the farmers which obviously add to environment pollution. Malavalli itself is reported to have a capacity to generate 5000 MW of power. Come to think of it, India produces approximately 100 million tonnes of crop and mill residues which can be used by biomass plants!!

So if we can think out of the box, with a little bit of will and partnership from both from the government and private entities we can end up in a much brighter scenario faster than expected. What can we being laymen do? We can help by efficient usage and management of power and there will hardly be a necessity to cry for power again.

For more details you can check the following references:

• Beware ghosts that gobble up power at homes - Deccan Herald - Jun 25, 2007
• Blacked out - India Today - Issue Jun 25, 2007
• http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1676&lang=English

Something different

Hi again all of u.... we meet again, after a long break...

I had nothing special to write in a long time, no personal memorable incidents, no excitement, nothing... seemed as though life had come to a standstill... Damn, this corporate world...

People go on rampage just like untamed Bulls (no hard feelings) with me not posting anymore... Hence I've decided to do something different this time on...

I will try capturing some stuff / news on the net and use them here (for everyones' perusal), will try and give personal, probably unbiased opinions and I hope to get suggestions, good or better ;) ... either will work for me and help me make this blog a better place...

Until then
Ciao

Wish life was a tape

The last week has been really nostalgic, has been a mixed bag of feelings. Its not just me, but I am sure that all my batchmates feel the same.

The day we were waiting for, for which countdown was set since placements, is here. Yes, the two years of MBA at TAPMI is coming to an end. These 2 years may have taught us all the things that perhaps any book could teach. But the experience gained, the fun time that was enjoyed, the friends made may never happen again in life.

A mix in the feeling of elation and sorrow fills me up. I cannot imagine my roomie or one of my neighbors not waking me up in the morning reminding me of class within the next ten mins!!! Nor can I hear Harsha's cacophonic voice in the...uh um...BATH... God knows from where will I source all the movies and even if I do, will I be able to start watching them at 1:30 in the night?? Where will I go at midnight if I feel hungry?

All the small things that made my day (and night) will be gone in a flash. At this point in time, I wish life was a tape... You can watch and do things all over again. Fast forward moments that you didn't like, esp. classes, go slow on some and pause some moments that you cherish forever....

But alas, life goes on and there's no turning back... We take it in our stride and continue to surge ahead with renewed energy and motivation thinking that tomorrow would be a better day...

Hypotheses turns out Correct !!!

A thought just occurred to my mind.

Why am I writing this blog?
Is it for others to see or is it for myself? My way of expressing my feelings about something. That, I can do otherwise as well.

Am I writing this to kill time or am I wasting my time writing this?

Just as one of my earlier posts talks about Laziness and Me, the hypotheses does seem to be right and is working well. I have seven classes everyday throughout the week except today, and here I am back at churning out new posts.

5 Whys - Do they really work??

Ok.... this is Management Control Systems session.

An assignment is due on the 5 - Why Analysis. This mode of analysis is supposed to dig out the 'Root Cause' for an identified problem. it is used most of the times in operations and was first used in Toyota...

Enough of details, I was very keen on testing this out. My friend Shaks and I had to complete the assignment and had the 'huge' responsibility of completing it on time.

So the problem we identified was what just happened to me earlier during the day:
"I reached late to class" - This was taken up as the problem identified.

Why did I reach late to class?
Because I got up late in the morning

Why did I get up late in the morning?
Because I slept late the previous night

Why did I sleep late the previous night?
Because I was in a party which went on late into the early morning

Why did you party late?
Because I topped the batch in a subject which was difficult

Why did you top the batch?
Because I had internalized all the learnings and had become an expert in the teachings and concepts of the subject

Thus, the root cause was analyzed. I should not have learnt the subject well. The problem would never have occurred in the first place. However, what good is it if I don't learn from past mistakes?

I will see to it that I never top again in class. It simply leads to other problems.

...It really works...

Click here for more details on 5 Whys

Early to bed early to rise

Early to bed, early to rise

Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise

Why cant b-schools take a cue from nursery schools?

These so called ‘Educational Institutes’ are breeding grounds for the mentally ‘strong’ people who can handle the stress or distress, joy or pain, come what may. They are most of the times logical and rational in all aspects of life and never let emotions or feelings affect their decisions…

Earlier, staying up awake into the wee hours of the night in India and welcoming the Australian morning was the case only during cricket matches held there. Now it is a daily affair.

A paradoxical situation from when the British used to pride themselves in saying “The sun never sets on the British Empire”. This has been globalized to, “The sun never sets for the MBA student”. He has to keep a track of daily changes in the market situation, stock market the world over, mergers and acquisitions, new products, research and so on.

Assignments, presentations, projects etc… all this for the sake of competing in the never ending rat race… I ask… why be a rat at all??

At the end of the day, only one aspect of the above prose is offered in MBA…wealth.

Health is gone for a toss and we become wise only when we grow old that too, given the health situation, if we get an opportunity to grow old.