And then one fine day she finally came to Boston..

Yes, she is here with all her white glory, the first snow of this winter season touched down in Boston area yesterday!

& just in time for Christmas..

Truly a the winter wonderland!

Can an expert be a master?

Can they ever be the same? Then how to separate them? 

Typical definition of these 2 words in English:

Expert :: A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.

Master :: One who has control over or ownership of something or some skill.

So, an 'expert' sounds like someone good at applying their skills on standard work. But may have a hard time working outside of the scope of what they know. 

On the other hand, a true master is not one who has mastered a skill, but rather one who has mastered the 'process of learning' about mastering that same skill.

In simple terms, the 'expert' just seems to know. 

The 'master' knows that there is much to learn and continually works on that task!
Looks like I have some clarity but might need to get it absolootely right before I move-on..

Stay with me patiently folks coz I am trying to get a clear understanding of these terms as a preface to a future rambling that I had to put on hold until I can get a clear idea of the distinction between an expert and a master!! (that was one big freakin sentence & I am slight-a proud of myself!)

It will help decide the fate of 2 eminent individuals who, based on how I understand the meaning of expert, master could be considered guilty!! :-O (by me of-course)

So waiteese, and yes, patience is a virtue.. :P

(Aa:) S G2 R2 G2 M1 N2 D2 M1 N2 N2 S (Av:) S N2 D2 M1 G2 M1 P M1 G2 R2 S

Disclaimer: If you stopped by expecting to read another rambling from a hopeless soul, you are up for disappointment (this time) and better move on.. :P


Not long ago and not so far away lived a boy who was ignorant when to came to technicalities in music.
But, but, he did have a pair of functioning ears and could listen to and attempt to appreciate rhythms. :P
One day he stumbled upon a couple of songs that sounded eerily similar and was intrigued! Upon seeking help of highly skilled sources with better set of ears, he found out that they were all based on same series of musical notes defined in the title of this post & make a melody(raaga) called ReethiGowla. 
Here is a flautist's rendering of the melody that started the quest:
(skip to the 1 minute mark to cut the intro in the beginning..)



Whoa, whoa.. wait a minute! That sounded like more than one song, didn't it?
And so started his quest to crack the code where he learnt that the recording indeed mixes 2 songs:


1) (oooold) song : Chinna Kannan Azhaikkiran
    film : kavikkuyil (? sorry, this is too old and he is no expert)
    composer : Ilaiyaraaja



2) song : Kangal Irandal
     film : Subramaniapuram
     composer : James Vasanthan (the fellow who used to be an anchor on VijayTV ?!?!)

And searching even more examples of this wonder he found 1 that he already liked:

 song : Azhagana Ratchashiyae
 film : Mudhalvan
 composer : AR Rahman



Are there more? No idea but maybe there are!! 
If only Google's algorithm can also crawl inside video, audio files and tag patterns.


Maybe one day it will..:P

Rise of Hatsune Miku!

Now who/ what is Hatsune Miku? 

Check out the video here

In what is probably not only a impressive technological feat but rather a terrible omen for singers and musicians, 3D holographs are now playing sold out concerts in, where else but Land of the rising sun: Japan.

Holographic idol Hatsune Miku is the creation of the group Crypton Future Media, using software from Vocaloid, and  put the avatar on tour with a live band. The sight of thousands of screaming fans waving glow sticks while the the holograph "performs" (renders pre-programmed dance moves accompanied by super-high pitch song) on stage looks straight out of a science fiction novel. But it is absolutely, undeniably true and happening right now!

The avatar is huge and incredibly realistic. While I am amazed by how far humans are able to stretch the bounds of imagination and possibility, I am also a bit irked by such trends and kinda fear for the continued existence of the natural (original) world as I know it.

Is this the 'Rise of the machines'??

Maybe.. maybe not.. :P

(21) Deepawali pattasu vangiyachaa??

It's time folks: the loudest, brightest and busiest festivals in India..Deepawali. (not Diwali or Divali but in tamil it is spelt தீபாவளி and so in english 'deepawali').


So, what do I expect from Deepawali? 

Here are some things I remember, in no particular order:

Deepawali setting inside our home:

Seyakkai podi, oil bath, புதூ சொக்காய் (new dress), பட்டாசு (fire crackers) [Lakshmi Vedi, double sound, atom bomb, hydrogen bomb, netaji, bijili, sara-vedi, rockets, the silent ones: flower pot, changu chakram, chattai, snake, electric stones, etc etc], Deepawali மருந்து / லேகியம் , sweets, savories (காரம்), deepawali special samayal by amma, programmes on TV: patti mandram, movie: it will either be a super-duper hit Thalaiwar movie or one supposedly called  'தமிழ் திரை உலகிலேயே முதல் முறையாக, திரைக்கு வந்து சில மாதங்களே ஆன, புத்தம் புதிய திரைப்படம்'.. a.k.a some bloody-blade movie that was taken of the screens even run a dozen shows, and end the day with visit to relatives' places, more sweets, more fun....

Deepawali season in the rest of Madras: 

No making charges, no wastage, lots of variety, Pothys, Chennai Silks, GRT, Rathna, Kumaran, Nalli, Saravana stores, crazy crowd, bubbling children, oceans of textiles, throw away prices, even more prizes, bumper to bumper traffic, tensed traffic police, hungry husbands, wives hunting-for-latest saree type, jubliant shop keepers, meals at Hotel Saravana Bhavan after shopping session, roadside hawkers, fleeting rain, tension-free youth, discounted fireworks, high decibel traffic announcement, people, people everywhere, all with the same thing running in their mind: Deepawali.. 

I absolutely miss everything about Deepawali.. real real bad!!

Now back to the cold silent night today and inspite of this being Deepawali night..
Damn I am living an almost pathetic life.. :P

[கைப்புள்ள  இன்னும்  ஏன்டா  முழிச்சிட்டு  இருக்க ?? thoonfru]