"Nonlinearity"

This mathematical term is best described by Nassim in his book Fooled by Randomness by the concept of Sandpile effect.
Think of making a structure of beach sand. Keep on raising the structure with sand till the time it falls off. Now try to figure out the effect of that last grain of sand that would have brought about this fall. The one grain has that non linear effect on that complete structure.

Non linearity in life is something our brain always refuse to understand. All of us have small events in our lives which have transformational effects on it. This is what can explain that extra mile effort before which most of us give up. Those who don't reap benefits of nonlinearity in life.

Quotes from "Fooled by Randomness"

* A mathematician is absorbed in what goes into his head, while a scientist searches what is outside of him.

* Heroes are heroes because they are heroic in behavior, not because they won or lost.

* Rational Thinking seems to do is to rationalize one's action by fitting some logic to them.

* Risk detection and avoidance are not mediated in thinking part of the brain but "emotional one"

*commonsense is nothing but a collection of misconceptions gained by age eighteen.

* Probability is an introspective field of inquiry.

*Past is always deterministic

* History flows forward, we envision it backward.

*Unlike other hard sciences history cannot lend itself to experimentation.

* Wealth does not count as much to one's well being as the route to get to it.

*History teaches us that things that did not happen before do happen.

* Science is mere speculation, mere formulation of conjecture.

*Generally attitude of epic heroism accompanies rapid enrichment.

* Work ethics is another name for Inefficient Mediocrity

17th nov, 2008 (Seven steps to keep money moving)

Ila Patnaik in her editorial "keep the Money Moving" in Indian Express has pointed out on 7 steps which RBI needs to take to ensure enough liquidity in the economy during these distressed times :
1) Make sure that the cost of credit remains low by reducing repo and reverse repo rates and opening credit lines with Fed, Exim Banks, multilateral agencies for dollar liquidity for Indian firms.

2) RBI should be alot more transparent on its weekly Forex reserve data which gets affected by both revaluation and intervention ( RBI buying and selling in market). This will keep confidence in the market

3) Open credit channels - Bond market is the need of the hour to provide short term credit to large firms. Absence of well developed bond market is hurting Indian corporates badly.

4) India should be careful about the infrastructure expension plans. Certain infra plans like delhi- mumbai freight corridor needs to be taken forward much swiftly.

5) Bankruptcy codes need improvement. few firms will go down, government should not try to protect them infact disciplined codes need to maintained

6) Watch banks continuously-- A special focus is required on the transmission of firm failure into banks fragility.

7) Do not tinker with market prices

Trip to Hampi (25th-27th, July,2008)

It was a trip to the 'ruined city' "the forgotten empire", an unforgettable one. It was like travelling back in time, about 700 yrs ago. I felt as if I am in ancient India, roaming in my kingdom. Btw I played the Senapati during the whole trip which added to the fun. Stupendous sculptures, astonishing structures, awsome art with science beyond our times and kachcha roads surrounded by huge monlithic rocks adds to the royal and ancient looks of the whole place. A must visit destination in North Karnataka approx 350 Kms from Bangalore.

The trip started on 25th july, friday night (10:00 pm) with Hampi Express journey from Bangalore to Hospet(13 Kms from Hampi) (8:00 am). We had booked our rooms in Ksrtc hotel Mayuri Buvneshwari (kamlanagar)which turned out to be good value for money deal. As a bonus we encountered a beautiful 7 feel cobra and scorpio in the hotel premises.
We started with Royal encloure which consisted of queens bath, dabbi, lotus palace, elephant stables, janana enclosure, underground shiva temple, Hazara Rama temple. To add to all this were the two huge rocky hills to the left of janana enclosure, and I must admitt climbing them was one of the high point of the trip. Just unbelievable view from the top and best part is not many people try that, hence its a kind of an adventure and once u reach the top, their is enough privacy to try out divine acts (ofcourse need to have right company).
Then we visited krishna enclosure, ugranarsimha and a few ganesha temple on our way to hampi from kamalanagar. It was approx 5 kms ride on bikes which we hired(recommended). By then it was time for dinner,we tried the famous hampi joint (mango tree), though the ambience was great, river side, darkish, lamps, mango tree, but food was very ordinary.
Next day we headed for Tungabhadra dam which was 20 kms ride, nice place. Then we visted Vitthala temple the most recommended enclosure of hampi. Just incredible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A kind of mini village, with completely royal feel to it. There one can find stoned chariot, musical pillars (scientifically mind blowing), sugriva caves and alot more.
In the last leg we visited monolithic bull, achutya raya temple.

In all it was one of the best trips i have ever experienced and very different in a way it takes u back in time. As this place was a ruined one not many things changed since then and ruined stuctures are there.
Guide and hired bikes are recommended for the trip................ We hired bikes through a person in the hotel itself (250 per bike per day).
Love to go back their again.........

Art of living

It has been almost 45 days of association with art of living. I have no doubt that it has brought about a positive change in my life. It has definitelty infused a breath of fresh air. Life looks a lot more beautiful, hence things become so easy. I have been smiling alot more , thanks to art of living and people I met there. I am yet to come accross a person who hasnt left smiling after attending any of living course. Specially going to the ashram is like being in a space with happiness all around. You see anybody and a connection is felt immediately because smiles are exchanged everytime. World looks heaven when i imagine such an environment, everywhere.
I have done YES+ and YES++ courses and found preachings so practical and simple.
I dont know how much even i myself can believe this, but things out of my hand are falling in place since then. Wanna go deeper into this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!