Time Travel

2005-06-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

A few months back, a time-traveler’s convention was held in MIT.The invitees were not our contemporaries, but people from future.It was an interesting experiment (as most of MIT's experiments turnout to be), by one Mr. Amal Durai.
The apparatus and procedure for the experiment were very simple.Invitations were placed in, some books, which get rarely read.i.e frequency of issue, is very low.The assumption was that these books would survive the future, irrespective of man made and natural calamities. And no one would be interested to touch these books (.Any way if the books were interesting their frequency of issue would be high!).
Because invitations are placed in a large number of books, there is a chance that this invitation would reach one Mr./Ms.abcdefg@future-2405 in the future. If that guy/gal is interested to meet amal durai he would turn up for the convention. I know what ppl like me would have thought...
"I would turn up on that fine morning carrying an invitation dressed up in a crazy apparel...”But common ...u r trying to fool an MIT guy. No way.
The invitees should bring proof of something more advanced in technology, May be a treatment for cancer.
The exact location of convention, longitude, latitude was specified in the invitation..
Also durai requested ppl to write abt the convention on clay tablets, so that it could be passed on to posterity.
Yes .it is the D-day ...an intellectual gathering is waiting for some xyz from future. But hooray/alas no one turns up...and the day ends in partying and revelry. And our durai says it does not mean his experiment has failed. He says that the invitation would have reached some xyz in the future but it is only that he does not have time to attend the conference (u see I can go some other day..bcoz time travel is possible, what an intellectual arrogance!!).

But is time travel possible?
If yes, can we go back in time and avoid the damages of world wars. Can we take precautions and avoid tsunamis.
And most basically. Is time travel necessary? We are not having time to spend with our near and dear and are dreaming of the day when we will go back and meet Hitler!!
And are we not challenging nature..then what is god?
Hmm....A lot of ethical issues to ponder...

A tale Of self sacrifice

2005-06-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

I don't know how i came across this article........The author is actually a chinese lady ,comparing and conrtrasting the cultures of east and west...

The article makes an interesting reading.
A Tale of Self Sacrifice
(6-96) This Chinese New Year, I volunteered to give a "show and tell" to my daughter's class. I chose the story "Don't Count the Dumplings" for a dozen of 4 to 5 year olds. It's a simple folk story from northern China, usually told during New Year's eve.
Before the year ends, every Chinese family would be busy preparing a big meal for New Year's eve. It's a time for family to get together to welcome the new year and remember the past. Mama Chen was also busying making dumplings for the family. She is poor, and she counted twelve dumplings for each person very carefully, just enough for every one in the family to have a good satisfying meal. When the evening came, she opened the door for papa Chen and found an old man collapsed in the street. It was a cold and snowy day. The old man moaned: "Mercy, mercy." Mama Chen and papa Chen helped him inside and sat him down at the dinner table. They began to set the table for dinner.
Mama Chen dished out most of the dumplings in a big plate and served. The old man was so hungry, he quickly ate all the dumplings, before other people had the chance to get started. Baby Chen looked at the empty plate, almost cried; but he thought it was impolite, and held back. The old man said: "More, please." Mama Chen was embarrassed, and said: "I'm afraid there's not much left, I'll get some more." The old man said: "Don't worry, go get it. Just remember, don't count the dumplings."
Mama Chen went to the kitchen thinking there were only 4 or 5 dumplings left in the pot, she'd dish them out first, then figure out something else to do. But when she opened the pot, there were lots of dumplings floating on top. She was surprised, but she remembered what the old man said: "Don't count the dumplings". She dished them out, and served a plateful of dumplings, and another plateful, and another, until everyone was full and satisfied.
The next morning, when everyone woke up, the old man was already gone. Mama Chen went to the kitchen to prepare for breakfast. She opened the pot and found a potful of silver dumplings. They realized then that the old man was really a Buddha, an angel, and the silver dumplings were magic, a miracle for the poor family. They were grateful and had a very happy new year.
At the end, I pointed out to the children that the reason for not counting the dumplings is to share. A five year old boy raised his hand: "Why can't I count my dumplings?" I said: "If you count too often, then you may not share so well." He paused, and said: "But I always count my things... I will only share after I count." I laughed, and said: "That's very good too." I was both amused by a five year old's wit, and the difference of culture. I have to admit, I now think twice about what story I tell to my daughter. Do I want her to be more competitive, or do I want her to have virtues like self sacrifice.

euphoria4ever

Time Travel

A tale Of self sacrifice