Today is 22/7

Today is 22nd july and is celebrated in the world by Maths geek as Phi approximation day as Phi is approximately equal to 22/7. 14 of March on the other hand is celebrated as Phi day as in American date format it is written as 3/14.

Phi is defined as the ratio of the circumference of the circle to its diameter.

The first Phi day was celebrated at San Fransisco Exploratorium in 1988 with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, and then consuming fruit pies. Now a days Pizza pies are added to its pi day menu. The founder of the Phi day was Larry Shaw, a retired physicist at the Exploratorium.

Mathematicians who approxmiated the value of phi include Archimedes (first to find the approximate value in 200 BC) but I had read in a book that it was Boudhadhanya (Indian mathematician to give the first approximation). 600 years later Chinese mathematician Zu Chongzhi improved on the approximation provided by Archimedes. This was the most accurate estimation for the next 900 years.

Later on in 1400 Indian mathematician Madhavacharya discovered a formula for Phi which was later rediscovered by James Gregory, Lebnitz in 17th century.

Two interesting trivia:

• 14th of March happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday. He was born in the year 1879.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to its prospective students on the Pi Day.

For more info log on to http://www.goiit.com/posts/list/community-shelf-in-pursuit-of-pi-78336.htm

Sach ka saamna

Sach ka saamna- Where you earn by saying the truth. The show is in the limelight from the day it has been on air. Its TRPs are increasing and today the show has been the talking point even in the parliament. The concept seems simple but the kind of questions asked are difficult to say the least.

Every contestant will give the true(to his belief) answer for all the questions. This is because there is no incentive to lie. First you lose the money and second people still know what is the truth as the ploygraph test reveals that the answer is a lie. I dont know how true is the polygraph test but assuming it is true I think we ourselves dont know what is the true answer for some questions in our life. There are certain answers which are structured as we are brought up and we dont realise that the answer is not what our mind thinks. We repeated say the structured answers that it gets registered with us and we end up giving that answer rather than the true answer.

I agree with the politicians that the show might lead to some problems in the contestant's life and is against our culture. Isnt it the truth at the end of the day?Does it mean we should hide the truth and boast about our culture. All the contestants are very courageous and I hope a politician comes to the show one day. Would I participate in the show?Very less probability that I will. Anyways who is giving me an option. Finally I think the society is not matured enough to accept the show.Given an option would you participate in Sach ka saamna?

Bacchae mann ke sache

How Does a person Decide Who to Marry?

“You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like
sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep
the chips and dip coming.”
Allan, age 10

“No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to
marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later
who you’re stuck with.”(Hmm.. Philosophical kid)
Kirsten, age 10

Concerning the Proper Age to Get Married

“Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by
then!”
Cam, age 10

“No age is good to get married at…. You got to be a fool to get
married!”(Very matured for his age)
Freddie, age 6

How Can a Stranger Tell if Two people are Married?

“Married people usually look happy to talk to other people.”
Eddie, age 6

“You might have to guess based on whether they seem to be yelling at
the same kids.”(nice logic)
Derrick, age 8

What Do You Think Your Mom and Dad Have in Common?
“Both don’t want no more kids.”(Haha)
Lori, age 8

What Do Most People Do on a Date?

“Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know
each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.”(girls are you listening)
Lynnette, age 8

“On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually
gets them interested enough to go for a second date.”(really)
Martin, age 10

What the Children Would Do on a First Date That Was Turning Sour

“I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the
newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.”
Craig, age 9

When is It Okay to Kiss Someone?

“When they’re rich!”(very smart)
Pam, age 7

“The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with
that.”(knows the law at this age... sahi hain)
Curt, age 7

“The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry
them and have kids with them…. It’s the right thing to do.”(his grandpa must have told him)
Howard, age 8

The Great Debate: Is It Better to Be Single or Married?

“It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need
somebody to clean up after them!”(She must be watching at home)
Anita, age 9

What Promises Do a Man and a Woman Make When They Get Married?

“A man and a woman promise to go through sickness and illness and
diseases together.”(Saat janam ka saath)
Marlon, age 10

This is by far my favorite.

How to Make a Marriage Work

“Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck!”(Is he really 7?)
Ricky, age 7

Getting Married for a Second time

“Most men are brainless, so you might have to try more than one to
find a live one.”(this will make the girls happy)
Angie L., age 10

How Would the World Be Different if People Didn’t Get Married?

“There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?”
Kelvin, age 8

Source http://chainletters.net/chainletters/kids-take-on-marriage/

Lets check your division.

Puzzle to puzzle you

Apathy

Apathy means an attitude of "I Dont care". We come across a lot of people who suffer from apathy. What else can be the reason for low voter turn out, people spitting on the road, littering,etc.

Do we really care on the global warming front?Do we really care about the electricity shortage, water shortage, etc. Do we care how people are dying of hunger and we waste a lot of food?

We only care about some things which affect us directly. We don't understand or realize the impact of the things that impact us indirectly.I think many of us do care but then think what can I do alone. The amazing thing is most of us think this way. There is an uniformity in thinking. I admit I am also among the majority but do my bit (may be 1%). I have come across especially young people of my age who don't care about all these issues. We are becoming more and more self centered. We exploit the environment and then crib about low rainfall. We litter and use polythene bags and complain about water logging. I know this is not going to change anything. Because majority knows whatever is written.

As Helen Keller said we have found out the cure for virtually all diseases but still the most dangerous disease seems to have no cure- Apathy. (not the exact verbatim of what Keller said)

Music Industry's take on Amit kumar

Fans speak up

PRITAM
I still remember attending one of his para shows in Kolkata. Those were the days when all-night concerts were popular. He arrived at 3 am and sang till 5 am! When I recorded my first song with him I was extremely moved. He is an amazing singer, gifted with a very powerful voice. Unfortunately he hasn’t got his due. He is a living legend.

VISHAL (of Vishal-Shekhar)
He has a God-gifted voice. We worked with him in Jhankar Beats and that was a learning experience. The remake of Humein Tumse Pyar Kitna turned out to be superb! He often comes up with suggestions and the influence of Pancham comes through in Boss Kaun Hai. He doesn’t believe in competition. But he doesn’t fail to swing even after 40 years!

VIJU SHAH
He puts in his best to make any song stand out. We worked together in Janaam, just after Tridev. He has a strong voice. We spent a lot of memorable moments working together.

SADHANA SARGAM
Amit Kumar is a very energetic and lively singer, besides being a decent soul. His voice is close to that of his father’s but along the way he has developed a style of his own.

UDIT NARAYAN
He has an extraordinary vocal range ~ a bass voice. He can feel the pulse of any song. Amit Kumar lives the lyrics of any song when he renders it. I have great memories of recording with him.

JAVED AKHTAR
I’ve always been a Kishore Kumar fan. Being his son, Amit has a gifted timbre. There was a time he was highly accepted by listeners but I don’t know why he shifted focus from singing for soundtracks. He sang my songs in Tezaab (Ek Do Teen, Kah Do ke Tum Ho Meri Barna), Sailaab (Mujhko Yeh zindegi, Palko Ke Taale) and also in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Drohi… He hasn’t got his due.

MILIND (of Anand-Milind)
Singing is not just facing a microphone. Songs need be acted out. Kishoreda was a master at this. Amit does the same. Recording with him has always been a good experience ~ since our first film, Ab Ayega Maza. He has even sung for our father Chitraguptji.

VISHWAS NERURKAR
He has a God-gifted voice, close to Kishoreda’s… Being an actor, he can put a lot into his recording sessions!

Amit Kumar turns 58

3rd July is the birthday of the singer Amit Kumar- son of legendary singer Kishore Kumar.
He turned 58 yesterday. Excerpts from an interview with Amit Kumar on his 58th birthday.

Still walking tall

Some people call him an eccentric ~ he doesn’t fly in aeroplanes during the monsoon ~ and some like to believe he doesn’t record songs often. The truth, as Sudipta Chanda finds out, is that the singer has been delivering hit after hit for the past 40 years. An exclusive interview with Amit Kumar

Looking back at the four decades behind you…
There is a popular English song Time Passes On. It feels like that; it feels great and I don’t have words to express my journey so far.

The moment you first walked into a recording studio…
It was for Door Ka Raahi ~ my father was the composer ~ and it was recorded at Bombay Film Lab in 1965. I had just reached Mumbai from Kolkata and rehearsed the song Main Ek Paanchhi Matwala Re ~ that was a tension-free session. An interesting point to note here ~ the video for the song was picturised on me and was filmed at Gourikunj. Unfortunately, the video was excluded from the film. The record released in 1969 with the song and I was credited as Amit Ganguly.

Your father was indeed your friend, philosopher and guide.
He was my mentor ~ he graduated me from studio to stage. My first Bangla song ~ Jinisher Daam Berechhe ~ was under Baba’s baton. He was my real critic. When I met Panchamda and sang Jhumroo real bad, Baba criticised me while returning home. I couldn’t sleep that night; time went by weeping. Later, when I started singing, he said that I would be sitting in a chair like the one he had at every studio.

Learning music…
The year was 1970, perhaps 1971. I suddenly decided that that I should get trained in Indian classical music. Baba laughed. But I was determined enough that he had ask Manna De to give me an appointment. And thus I met Mannada, who also laughed before recommending me to Ghulam Mustafa Khan, who used to visit Gourikunj twice a week. Suddenly, I felt the exercise was difficult and gave up learning. After Baba’s death, I once again learnt classical music from Satya Narayan Mishra and that definitely helped me to win back my confidence, add clarity to my vocal treatment. My singing style matured.

You have achieved a lot…
On my debut show in Mumbai, SD Burman was the chief guest. He was moved by my performance and threw a garland at me. Now, that’s a moment to cherish. I also remember receiving my first Filmfare award from Baba for Love Story in 1981. After Baba’s death Laxmiji said something really heart-warming, “Don’t think you are getting to sing my songs because you’re Kishoreda’s son. You have potential.” OP Nayyarsaab also heaped compliments on me, “Beta, your voice has gamaak which used to be in Rafisaab’s voice.”
How do you assess Amit Kumar, the singer?
I don’t consider myself to be a great singer. I sounded raw when I started my career. Now I sing much better.

People who helped you to succeed.
First, my listeners, fans… they made it possible. Then my Baba and Ma. All my composers who believed in me ~ Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, Salilda, Nayyarsaab, Rajesh Roshan, Bappi Lahiri and, of course, Shaktida, Tarun Mazumdar and RD Burman.

RD Burman was your mentor…
Of course… after Baba, Panchamda was my mentor. I spent some lovely days with the maestro. I became his fan when Chhote Nawab released. Outsiders were not allowed in his sitting room but I was an exception. Thanks to him, I found my first hit in Balika Badhu, the only Filmfare Award for Love Story and, after Baba’s death, he helped me with Rama O Rama… I never had to look back. His recording sessions were very creative, enjoyable, extremely comfortable. I still feel he is around.

You’re a master of stage shows…
I started performing in Kolkata, the first being in Uttam Kumar’s locality ~ Bhowanipur. Later I joined Calcutta Youth Choir as a percussionist. Suddenly Baba was informed that I was doing shows and he called on me. Ma was very much confused about my future as I started losing interest in studies. This was the time when Baba introduced me at a gala show ~ “Papa Kishore and Sunny Amit Together” ~ in Mumbai, where SD Burman was the chief guest. I had my first big stage show at Rabindra Sadan ~ it was arranged by Gautam Mukherjee. And in 1972 Suprakash Gargari presented “Amit Kumar Presents Kishore Kumar”, a memorable musical extravaganza. Besides, I did shows with Laxmi-Pyare, Kalyanji-Anandji, Ashaji, Bhupinder Singh, RD Burman and many others.

Your idols.
My parents introduced me to a wide range of music. I love South American music and singers like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Jose Feliciano, the orchestra of Ray Conniff and so on. I still love jazz ~ Benny Goodman, Harry James are worth a mention. I would like to believe that music has no boundaries.

It’s a mad, mad world.
Baba was known for his eccentric activities but the saying goes ~ baap ka beta, sipahi ka ghoda. Kuchh nehin to thoda thoda (chip off the old block)! A few years back a few journalists asked me a cliched question: how I assessed remakes and remixes. I wanted to run away from them and answered, “Oh great! I love remakes and remixes. It sounds better than the originals. I don’t listen to Kishore Kumar’s songs.” They were confused and stopped asking me questions. I can recall another incident that took place in Benaras one year ago where a reporter asked me why I was not performing often. I said, “This donkey’s braying has been well accepted for 40 years. Khuda maherban to gadha bhi pahalwan (God willing, even a donkey feels strong)!” Then I rattled off a list of songs from my forthcoming films. There was a long silence.

Future projects.
Dulha Mil Gaya, Aladin, Mukti, Rama The Yoddha, Leela, Harano Sur, Osama, First Forward, Hang To Death, Ekbaar Take Chaichhi and so on. There is a special stage show ~ “Do Kishore” ~ in memory of Baba. Hopefully it will start in October. And I plan to record an album ~ Baakwas.