tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193098472024-03-13T07:53:54.584+05:30Thus Speak NirmalNirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-50042223617862659872011-11-16T09:42:00.002+05:302011-11-16T09:48:21.514+05:30Trains<p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">This post is neither about my fascination for trains nor about my rants of a train journey. Its just a post that captures the various kinds of people I've encountered in my 4 years of travel between Bangalore and Madurai</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />1- The bunch of people who right after boarding would plug-in wires (sorry earphones) into their ears and enter into another world. At times, you can even hear them exhibiting their singing talents. </p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />2. The other kind who usually board the train as one big family. And always on the lookout for innocent victims to exchange seats and rescue their family members from a different coach. It might also happen that the exchanged berth might be in RAC status and the victim would end up sitting all the way while the other enters into snoring mode to avoid an exchange.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />3. The kind that comes as a three member family. A husband, wife and a new born baby(which would turn the world upside down with its cry). Born to cry tagline would suit it better. You don't have to worry about alarms to wake up the next morning, because you never get to sleep the whole night. </p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />4. The elderly gentleman and lady who would have reserved the Lower Berth in the coupe. Just when you thought that you had a good magazine or a book to read, the lights would go off. You end up going to your Berth half heartedly trying to search for the elusive sleep.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />5. The college gang.. The fun loving gang who would be awake atleast half the duration of the journey. As usual the topic would be, movies, politics, company life, good old college life, who's getting married next in our class topics, lastest updates on who's where n what doing now stories ( i can see your smile )..what not.. The patrol officer in the train would dissolve the assembly session for the night.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Having said all these, I would love to be a part of the college gang when travelling with friends and be a bookworm forced to sleep when travelling alone.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />Whatever, I still enjoy travelling by train.</p><p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></p>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-37195604861481020162010-05-25T21:33:00.007+05:302010-05-25T22:40:49.285+05:30Life without the internet!! nah..<div style="text-align: justify;">I just cannot imagine a life without the internet.<br /><br />Following are my observations on this internet age:<br />1) Login to mail and check for a mail every 2 minutes.<br /><br />2) Mailbox would be the first site that would be visited right after the system boots.<br /><br />3) If no new mail arrives within 30 minutes, we are driven to such an extent that we suspect somethings wrong with the mail server and hit Refresh button twice.<br /><br />4) Have a mail account created with almost all of the mail service providers ,from Yahoo to Zapak.<br /><br />5) Watch videos uploaded by our friends in Facebook, Orkut etc.. and losing track of time..<br /><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-42520364114970017702010-02-04T15:35:00.000+05:302010-02-04T15:36:48.943+05:30XOR magic<div style="text-align: justify;">An interesting read: <a href="http://rumkin.com/reference/algorithms/linked_list/">http://rumkin.com/reference/algorithms/linked_list/ </a><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-91864253463283014442010-02-01T11:23:00.005+05:302010-02-04T16:50:13.881+05:302010...<div style="text-align: justify;">This is my first post in 2010. Looking back at 2009, it was quite an eventful year. The year has gone by, but not its memories. Where can I put my trust, except in Him.<br />A wonderful hymn which means a lot to me.<br /></div><br /><center><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/59TzJRASQJg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/59TzJRASQJg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></center>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-61714852757369711142009-10-18T22:19:00.003+05:302009-10-18T23:11:03.885+05:30Living one day at a timeNice read :-)<br /><p>The Bible is very clear that there is needful help in every trial. Physical burdens are ill to bear, and mental burdens are even harder. However, faith allows me to face each day knowing that tomorrow is also in God’s hands.</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><p><em>This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.</em><br /></p><p>(Psalm 118:24 KJV Bible) </p></blockquote></div><br /><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>I know He is the beginning, so why do I worry about the end? </li><li>I know He is the creator, so why do I wonder who will destroy? </li><li>I know He has forgiven me, so why can't I forgive myself? </li><li>I know He is a healer, so why do I speak of sickness? </li><li>I know He can do all things, so why do I say I can't? </li><li>I know He will protect me, so why do I fear? </li><li>I know He will supply all my needs, so why can't I wait? </li><li>I know He is my strength and my salvation, so why do I feel weak? </li><li>I know that everything and everyone has a season, so why when someone's season is over do I weep instead of rejoice? </li><li>I know He is the right way, so why do I go the wrong way? </li><li>I know He is the light, so why do I choose to walk in darkness? </li><li>I know that whatever I ask of GOD, GOD will give me, so why am I scared to ask? </li><li>I know tomorrow is not promised, so why do I put off for tomorrow what I can do today? </li><li>I know that the truth shall make me free, so why do I continue to lie? </li><li>I know He gives us revelation knowledge and understanding, so why do I lean on my own understanding? </li><li>I know I should live in the spirit as well as walk in the spirit, so why do I choose to live in the spirit but walk in the flesh? </li><li>I know that when praises go up blessings come down, so why do I refuse to praise Him? </li><li>I know I am saved, so why do I refuse the word He has given me?</li></ul>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-60317716233891179172009-10-10T09:09:00.011+05:302009-10-10T10:39:35.707+05:30Story time it is...<div style="text-align: justify;">I read this story on the internet and felt that it should go in my blog for sure: <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There was once a bird which stayed close to a sugar factory. It usually had the habit of taking sugar from one place to another. One fine day, while repeating its usual course of fly, the sugar which it was carrying fell off into a pot containing water. Desperate to get the sugar back, the bird dipped its beak into the pot containing water. Since the sugar had just started to dissolve in water , the water on top of the pot tasted very sweet for the bird. On its way back, thinking the water would still be sweet it dipped its beak to find that the water wasn't sweet. So the bird started taking more amounts of sugar everyday and added it into the water, but still the water in the pot wasn't sweet. In desperation, the bird started working over-time, just to show its mates that it has found a water pot that had sweet water. Its mates never knew the ground reality. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moral of the story:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Half-truth is far worse than complete falsehood.</span><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-77879344457352376822009-10-05T11:07:00.002+05:302009-10-05T11:13:54.677+05:30Tweets from Rick Warren<span style="font-style: italic;">People tend to believe the parts of the Bible they like & ignore/deny what doesnt fit their system.U cant box in God!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The very day I call for help, the tide of battle turns.Enemies flee!This one thing I know:God is for me!" Psalm 56:9 LB</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If u look at the world,u'll be depressed.If u look within, u'll be distressed.If u look at Christ,u'll be at rest.</span>-CTenBoom<br /><br />PS: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Warren">Who is Rick Warren? </a><br />Follow Rick at: http://twitter.com/rickWarrenNirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-33801469921364756842009-10-02T21:35:00.003+05:302009-10-02T22:19:47.612+05:30Always know...<span style="font-style: italic;">Always know that God cherishes you and live that way</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">What a wonderful promise it is. A sense of security in God's arms. A sure sign that ONLY God can love us unconditionally come what may. Like an expression of joy that descends on a sailor's face on seeing a lighthouse when sailing though a tempest. He gets the assurance that the destination is not far away and he just needs to focus on the lighthouse and sail towards it. <br /><br />The Bible says in Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you, He will never let the righteous fall". An answer when we are too bothered about the problems in life.<br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-72456217650370971932009-09-17T23:26:00.004+05:302009-09-17T23:43:37.069+05:30God's restoring power by Rev.Arun Andrews<embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=4417562751196919380&hl=en&fs=true" style="width: 400px; height: 326px;" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /><br/><b><a href="http://www.trumba.com/events-calendar/chennai-kolkata-mumbai-new-delhi-time/rzim-india-arun-andrews">To track Rev.Arun Andrew's event calendar visit here</a></b><br/>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-11407924591513723242009-08-22T11:56:00.003+05:302009-08-22T12:03:24.848+05:30stars n smileI happened to read this interesting quote somewhere...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If I were to hold a star in my hand for everytime you made me smile, the entire stars in the evening sky would be in the palm of my hands.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I don't find any stars in the sky today.</span><br /><br />That's deep... :-)Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-39921700625935713772009-07-28T21:42:00.005+05:302009-07-28T22:18:39.351+05:30Granny's cake<div style="text-align: justify;">Atheists say "the reason mankind still believes in a Creator is because he has not yet fully understood how the Universe came in to exisitence. Just because Science has not yet proved convincingly the Big Bang Theory(& the likes), mankind clings to his age old beliefs".<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope, you might have heard this umpteen number of times. This, to an extent can be summarized as "Science is God".<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Assume a granny has baked a chocolate cake.<br />A group of scientists are asked to examine the cake.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One says "NaHCO3 is present"<br />Another says "It is made of wheat & cocoa"<br />Another says "Flour & milk is mixed in the proportion 3:1"<br />Another one says, "It contains sucrose"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Well said. The above could be true. But examining granny's cake never answered "WHY Granny baked it in the first place?". Science answers only the "how & what" part. Granny could have made the cake for a birthday bash!.<br /></div><br /><br />Now, coming to the original topic, where science fits in? Mankind in his knowledge has found a scientific explanation to the constituents of the Universe. But Science can never answer the WHY part or the purpose behind it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the reason why Science cannot take God's place.<br />Science only helps us understand the fingerprint of the Creator.<br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-51232399549090313312009-06-13T13:18:00.008+05:302009-06-13T13:37:09.608+05:30Changing boarding point for a tatkal E-ticket<div align="justify">I booked a train ticket from Mysore(MYS) to Tutucorin(TN) under the Tatkal scheme in the IRCTC website and forgot to change the boarding point from Mysore(MYS) to Bangalore City Station(SBC). If I were to board the train at Bangalore, chances are that the ticket would have gone to someone else :( and would have been treated as a Wait Listed passenger.<br />After a quick check with the IRCTC Customer care, I was informed that the boarding point needs to be changed at the nearest reservation counter with a Chief Reservation Supervisor(CRS):<br />Little did I know about these:<br />1) Take a Xerox copy of the ID<br />2) Write a letter to the CRS requesting for a change in the boarding point.<br /><br />First thing that struck my mind was the K.R.Puram railway station, as it was close by my place. That did have a reservation counter, but not a CRS. Someone in the reservation counter suggested me to go to either Bangalore City station or the Cantonment Station as it had a CRS. I rushed to the Cantonment station. Once reaching there I was informed about (1), I walked for a km to get my ID Xerox'ed. Then to my surprise I was informed about (2) and walked to the same shop to get A4 sheets for writing a letter requesting for a change.<br /><br />Once all the formalities were over, the lady at the counter logged into the application and changed the boarding point. It was an exercise for me, thanks to my folly, but things could have been more simpler if this information was properly put up in the IRCTC website.</div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-9202247017078530092009-05-28T14:29:00.006+05:302009-05-28T14:47:02.594+05:30How small we are!!I got this link from one of my friends. Just a reminder of how small we are.<br /><a href="http://blogs.livemint.com/blogs/filter_coffee/archive/2009/05/14/see-how-small-we-are.aspx">Click here to view</a><br /><br>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-79524085349738486902009-03-16T22:10:00.000+05:302009-03-17T13:39:44.714+05:30Top 30 innovations in the last 30 years<p>The Wharton School of Business has created a list of the top 30 innovations in the last 30 years. The complete list is <a href="http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2163">here</a>, but here are the top ten: </p><ol><li>Internet, broadband, WWW (browser and HTML)</li><li>PC/laptop computers</li><li>Mobile phones</li><li>E-mail</li><li>DNA testing and sequencing/Human genome mapping</li><li>Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)</li><li>Microprocessors</li><li>Fiber optics</li><li>Office software (spreadsheets, word processors)</li><li>Non-invasive laser/robotic surgery (laparoscopy)<br /></li></ol> Others...<br />11. Open Source Software Services<br />15. Online Shopping/ E-commerce<br />20. Social Networking - Orkut, Facebook, etc<br />22. Digital Photography<br />24. Genetically modified plants<br />26. Bar Codes & Scanners<br />27. ATMs<br />30. Anti-retroviral drug for AIDS.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Courtesy: <a href="http://www.davidchappell.com/about/index.php">David Chappell </a></span>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-9303587363390893462009-03-07T15:39:00.003+05:302009-03-07T15:54:26.540+05:30My orkut algorithmThanks da.<br />Thanks a lot..<br />Happy new year..<br /><br />this is the what appears in my orkut scrapbook more often than not.<br />Orkut is lifeless or atleast my scrapbook is.<br /><br />This is how my orkut algorithm works,<br />1) login to orkut<br />2) check the birthday list<br />3) wish them<br />4) logout<br />5) Repeat from Step (1) the next day.<br /><br />Orkut was a big craze when I was in 3rd year. I got an invite from one of my friends(I don't exactly remember who it was). It was in the Database Management Programming Lab 5th Semester I joined orkut. Within the next few months, orkut mania swept our college and they issued a ban on accessing orkut. From 0 friends to 300 friends in 3 years... got a chance to link with my old schoolmates which otherwise would not have been possible...<br /><br />Apart from that, invites pour in from HiFi, Facebook ..blah blah. I chose not to join any other social networking website.Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-46734678242811011842009-03-05T23:57:00.008+05:302009-03-06T01:33:21.640+05:307 things the world doesn't know about meIn continuation to my earlier post on <a href="http://nirmalanand.blogspot.com/2007/05/5-things-world-doesnt-know-abt-me-i-was.html">5 Things the world doesn't know about me</a> some years back, here's an update :)<br />Here it goes...<br /><br />1) I have the habit of adding sugar to coconut chutney every time. Well... Sugar + Sambhar also tastes good... It seems a bit weird, but I have always liked the taste :)<br /><br />2) I have been to the theatre only thrice in my life so far,<br /> Jurassic Park (1994) - with family @ Madras<br /> Jungle Book (1998) - school trip @ Madras<br /> Chak De India (2008) - Team outing @ HP, Bangalore<br /><br />3) Gulab Jamoon & Rasagulla are the sweets I hate the most. Maybe it is too sweet for my tongue.<br /><br />4) Chess, the game I love the most. I have represented my school in chess tournaments at Madras. And have always regretted for the lack of exposure I got after moving to Madurai in 1999.<br /><br />5) I have the habit of treasuring my old stuffs safely. And of course, memories of my Kindergarten days, 11th & 12th tuition classes, the unlimited fun I had while seated at the last bench during my 12th std @ SBOA, 1st day at college, new friends during my college days, campus placements , semester exam scare and the list goes on...<br /><br />6) Of late, trying to explore the ironies & contradictions in life.<br /> A random thought, X- boy, Y- girl,<br /> Statement 1: X likes Y. X decides not to approach/talk to Y until things get settled. After some years, X happens to meet Y. Then X decides to talk. The Crowd says, X does not even know Y and so no point in talking now.<br /> Statement 2: X likes Y. X decides to approach/talk to Y. Years go by, they get along very well. The Crowd says, how can X do such a thing. X should not have talked with Y in the beginning.<br />Statement 1 & 2 are ironic.<br /><br />7) Many people who interact with me become surprised when they come to know that I am a Christian. "Nirmalanand" which means "a person who delights in holiness" literally gives very little hint that I am Christian.<br /><br />By the way, there is absolutely no significance as to why I have chosen 7 things and not any other number ;-)Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-26433478640144945952009-02-17T14:19:00.007+05:302009-03-17T10:33:03.950+05:30SQL Server RocksT-SQL Server Enhancements is being handled by me!! :-)<br /> Snaps taken at the event is <a href="http://cid-10f81c6c30ac808f.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/SQL%20Sever%20Rocks%21%21?ct=photos">here</a><br /> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=135528"><img src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e286/nirmal2186/SQLServerRocks.gif" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=135528">Just Click to Register for the Event</a></span><br /></div><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-19373767302473278922008-12-25T15:17:00.003+05:302008-12-25T15:21:19.567+05:30What Christmas Is & Is not<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It Isn't about:</span><br /><br />1) It is not about the Santa Claus that appears these days as a default logo during Christmas season<br /><br />2) It is neither abt the Christmas tree nor the star that hangs in front of the house.<br /><br />3) It is not about plum cakes & new clothes.<br /><br />4) It is not about all-night parties.<br /><br />The media and the society portray Christmas as yet another day to party & exchange gifts during the holiday season, in effect the real-meaning of Christmas is lost somewhere. It is analogous to a person arranging a huge banquet for a King and not inviting him. How good is that???<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It Is about:</span><br /><br />God’s love for mankind. A love so pure & lasting, that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us and to save us from our sins [which would end in death otherwise]. And a time for us to realise, repent of our sins and accept Him so that we might live and walk with Him every day.<br /></div><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-4985387797274749122008-12-17T14:58:00.016+05:302008-12-25T22:56:39.644+05:30A year gone by..<div style="text-align: justify;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dec 17th 2007, it is still etched in my mind, the day I underwent Zyoptics Eye Treatment to correct my vision, of course to do away with my specs :-). I have been wearing specs from my 3rd standard, probably due to hereditary reasons, since my father & grand father started wearing specs at a young age.<br /><br />Coping up as school going kid had always been difficult, especially when I stood out so distinctively in the class just because I wore a spectacle so big that would cover two third of my face 8-) ... Not to mention the insults & nicknames from teachers & other contemporaries. This went on till I completed my 12th standard. I switched over to contact lens once I joined college[Ah, what a relief!! :)]. Looking back, it brings a smile on my face and am thankful to God for making me go through these sort of experiences so that I could learn from them.<br /><br />PS: I have abstracted on my Zyoptics Eye Treatment procedure coz I ain't a doc ;-) .. On second thought, I would post it sometime in future on-demand basis :-)<br /><br /></span></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-73875122737791358602008-12-17T02:06:00.008+05:302008-12-17T02:23:20.225+05:30Proof that God exists!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Statement:</span><br />Let us try proving that God exists conversly. As per defnition of God, " God is holy, just, full of truth, loving & the law giver".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Proof:</span><br /><br />Assume that God does not exist.<br />1) Good & evil exists in this world. Even an atheist would agree to it for sure.<br /><br />2) But, man cannot set the rules for what is good & evil.<br />Say for eg: <a href="http://doctor.ndtv.com/poll/newresult.asp?id=4">Mercy killing is it good or bad?</a> As per a survey conducted by NDTV recently, 67% agree that it is Correct. The remaining 33% do not agree to it and feels that is Not Correct. We have different opinions here. A statement's correctness is purely relative and varies from person to person. So, man cannot be the moral law giver because what one feels to be correct may not be acceptable from the other person's perspective.<br /><br />3) So the moral law giver should be someone who is true, just & correct always.<br /><br />4) This matches with the definition of God. This conflicts our assumption.<br /><br />Therefore God exists.<br /><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-48453700453703868642008-11-16T11:37:00.005+05:302008-11-16T12:12:31.080+05:30I'm readingSince the start of 2008 I've been reading some books. Books that I read this year so far...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-QVDEtgtDedfSzOg6zBBAScdZXo7qBvsT-5D2w7rY0bYjZKHx70mX0oWZSQnP0jPnxlAYzw9snKranS6cwWWJQ_WW128O6ZizphkqfxQqWRgglH-fizHt8CEyyY-FUEWKEbx/s1600-h/final.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-QVDEtgtDedfSzOg6zBBAScdZXo7qBvsT-5D2w7rY0bYjZKHx70mX0oWZSQnP0jPnxlAYzw9snKranS6cwWWJQ_WW128O6ZizphkqfxQqWRgglH-fizHt8CEyyY-FUEWKEbx/s320/final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269140470104366898" border="0" /></a>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-13306651552460829312008-09-27T23:11:00.006+05:302008-09-28T00:30:12.193+05:30No more in its teens :-)<div style="text-align: justify;">Couple of months back our car crossed its teens. Manufactured in 1988, FIAT(Premier Padmini Deluxe) has been a part of our family since 1990. It was bought as a second-hand car from the Art Director Thotta Tharani(you must be seeing his name in a lot of tamil movies these days). Couple of features I really admire in our car is its floor gear design and push back seats, which was a rarity in those days, hence it was tagged as a Deluxe model.<br /><br />It has taken us to many places: school in Madras. trips to Guindy Zoo, Marina beach, especially my one and only transport during my 12th Public Examination in SBOA and to semester examinations in all my years in college. One thing which has never troubled us for the past 18 years is its engine [so durable!!]. Our car drinks [Er.. I mean runs on :-)]pertol (Lots of 'em!). It has crossed over 70,000kms and gives a milege of around 8kms/litre.<br /><br />For the past 10 years, it has run only on second-hand retreaded tyres. If we were to buy steel radials like MRF ZVTS, it would cover more than half of the car's worth :D<br /><br />Though Premier Padmini hasn't been tagged as a vintage car yet, you see them very rarely on the roads. Be it anyway, it would be in my books as one of my favourite cars and am really proud to see it parked in our portigo :)<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QyQvYSulbvqF34W3e92Oah0m9ckNaB40lSCAy1ahb9Pvqw-M5db4qo8-7MVqHol4TNssu0YAryXpfSGxDpzDJTY2cKhyHVgxfVimwynvvmwBGXQF6dYe2x6JUnmvovwZkEM3/s1600-h/P3040182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QyQvYSulbvqF34W3e92Oah0m9ckNaB40lSCAy1ahb9Pvqw-M5db4qo8-7MVqHol4TNssu0YAryXpfSGxDpzDJTY2cKhyHVgxfVimwynvvmwBGXQF6dYe2x6JUnmvovwZkEM3/s320/P3040182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250774468139810962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">There she stands!</span><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-21792028514290045232008-08-01T23:34:00.010+05:302008-09-17T01:03:03.312+05:30Back to school!!<div></div>Yep..Back to school, this time for my piano classes :-) . I can remember very well as a small kid in 4th standard so desperate to learn piano. But that almost came true when I was in my 8th standard, I got a chance to take up classes for a month in <a href="http://www.anitamethodist.com/ourschool.html">the school where I studied in Madras</a> and could not study further as we moved to Madurai.<br /><br />Finally, in my 3rd year in college we bought a 5 octave <a href="http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%253D49083%2526CTID%253D205000,00.html">Yamaha keyboard E303</a>. I have been taking up classes on both Western & Classical (BTW, very little of it) ever since I moved to Bangalore for my work. I can play a bit of Treble notes, rest is still cooking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhU-THq7Fei1S3HDxtZv6LO1MSIlSUya6E4yLYfnuNYL2QI0HnGndyFeBoz0phq1p1LsIfCPrR_fRKz1g0DRAHVTI51o_zw4v5PiN8fqIFDAHBFsAEcyuMBd_kSbdeoTRt2hQ/s1600-h/DSC00542.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhU-THq7Fei1S3HDxtZv6LO1MSIlSUya6E4yLYfnuNYL2QI0HnGndyFeBoz0phq1p1LsIfCPrR_fRKz1g0DRAHVTI51o_zw4v5PiN8fqIFDAHBFsAEcyuMBd_kSbdeoTRt2hQ/s320/DSC00542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246703842364593730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That's me practising hard :-)</span><br /></div><br />Its always fun to learn the stuffs you always wanted to do.<br />Piano classes also taught me a very good lesson on humility, "a place one has to listen to a third standard kid and watch him play a tune. You never know, they are more experienced in it than what we are!!"<br /><br />If you are passionate about Piano, Violin or Guitar and you stay close to S.S.Colony/Bye-Pass Road in Madurai, you can write to me at nirmalanandj@gmail.com. I can put you in touch with our Music Sir :-)Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-9968041460191310842008-07-24T23:09:00.002+05:302008-07-24T23:19:45.323+05:30<p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Up & Running</span></strong></p><p>By God's grace the website of Bethel Methodist Church, Bangalore is up and running at <a href="http://www.bmcbangalore.org/">http://www.bmcbangalore.org/</a>. The website was dedicated for the Glory of God on July 13th 2008. Too complex for me to fathom that it was God's plan that I should take up .NET as my passion during my college days. Read <a href="http://nirmalanand.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-i-happened-to-learn_28.html">here</a> & <a href="http://nirmalanand.blogspot.com/2006/09/dj-vu-last-week-world-finals-of.html">here</a> & <a href="http://nirmalanand.blogspot.com/2006/09/my.html">here</a><br /></p>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19309847.post-40916812087067370732008-05-28T17:07:00.005+05:302008-05-28T17:19:28.416+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >God answers to ALL our prayers</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">This is one of the forwards I got in my mail box, it made me realize how wonderfully God had led us thus far. Despite that, we in our usual-selves are quick at saying "I pray everyday for my wants, but God doesn't seem to answer". We need to change this part in us to move closer to God.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Patience is what we need in prayer</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When the <span style="font-style: italic;">idea is not right, God says, "NO".</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">No - when the idea is not the best.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">No - when the idea is absolutely wrong.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">No - when though it may help you, It would create problems for someone else</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">When the <span style="font-style: italic;">time is not right, God says, "SLOW".</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">What a catastrophe it would be if God answered every prayer at the snap of your fingers.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you know what would happen?</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">God would become your servant, not your master.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Suddenly God would be working for you instead of you working for God.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">When <span style="font-style: italic;">you are not right, God says, "GROW."</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The selfish person has to grow in unselfishness.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The cautious person must grow in courage.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The timid person must grow in confidence,</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The dominating person must grow in sensitivity.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The critical person must grow in tolerance.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The negative person must grow in positive attitudes.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The pleasure-seeking person must grow in compassion for suffering people.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">When<span style="font-style: italic;"> everything is all right, God says, "GO."</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Then miracles happen:</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">A hopeless alcoholic is set free.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">A drug addict finds release.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">A doubter becomes a child in his belief.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Diseased tissue responds to treatment, and healing begins.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The door to your dream suddenly swings open and there stands God saying, "GO!".</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Remember: God's delays are not God's denials. God's timing is perfect.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The Lord wants the very best for us, but let us not arrogantly assume that we know what this "best" is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">As the trials of life and our circumstances continue to frustrate us, be comforted by the admonition from James: 5:7-11 "be patient; strengthen your hearts" and know for certain that "the Lord is full of compassion". Amen.<br /><br />God bless you!<br /></span><br /></div>Nirmalanandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10079850029206070608noreply@blogger.com1