Tie Tie Phisss!

As in the necktie! That long cloth which hangs from your neck or shoulders, knotted at the throat and then part of which is rested under the shirt’s collar. Ever wondered how it came into being? It’s a descendent of Cravat, a neckband Croatians used in the 17^th century. And now it has become an integral part of the formal wear, at least for men, and in many cases, part of school uniforms for boys and girls alike.

One would wonder if there is only one way to tie a tie. If you’re one of those to think so, it’s time to put some light on that thought! There are in numerous ways to tie a tie and there exist tens of variations of shapes and sizes. An interesting fact, but many are not aware of.
The most commonly used knot is called Four-in-hand, then there are Windsors and half-Windsors, Pratt, diagonal or simple double, Kelvin and the customized ones like Prince Albert and Atlantic.

These different forms of knots are basically country specific knots. Like Four-in-hand is most preferred by the Englishmen, Pratt’s used by the Americans and the Windsor being the Europeans alike, which are usually thicker than rest of the knot types.

Did you know that with a conventional tie, eighty-five knots are possible! A mathematical modelling was conceived by Thomas Fink and Yong Mao of Cambridge in the late 1990’s to come to the discovery.

Many have had issue of safety hazard to wear a traditional tie, but they still have to considering their profession is formal, for example, the pilots. Clip-on ties are specially made to use in such conditions. These are, unlike traditional ties, permanently knotted bow tie or four-in-hand style affixed with a metal clip to the front of the shirt collar. So when they’re in the cockpit and need to be confined inside for the flight duration, they take it off and just before to step out they put it on. I possibly didn’t know this, before my recent trip to Kerala. The co-pilot was a friend’s friend had agreed on to show me the cockpit. So I had waited till the flight was completely empty and then he stepped out, dressing up. And that’s when I realized what the pilots do!

And the other day I happened to see an app on one of the smartphones, on detailed ways to how to tie a tie, the different knots and what each knot is called. Apparently there exists hundreds of website itself to provide people with this information!

Am not a big fan of football but many of my friends are. And I happen to see a lot of football matches all thanks to them. One thing I quite noticed, apart from the match, is that although it’s only the players who are in uniforms, their club managers isn’t far behind to carry the fan image. In their formal attire, they tend to wear their club’s ties. Or even if they do not have their club names printed, they follow it with its colours, like red or blue. So much of a diehard fan for their club!

It sure is impressive! This journey of ties from how it originated to what it is now is surely a fascinating thing to know. Never knew it would really be a vast topic to know, than what it is perceived as. Am out of that illusion, hope you are too, now!

Gadgets and more

A lot has been written about it since the inception of technology and it has caught the chauvinistic attitude that it's a synonym to the male sex, not that the fairer sex .
The time changed, and the products changed. Computers were and still are the core gadget and everything else revolves around it. The initial ones were as big as one big room and since then the size of it has reduced as if they were ramp models. 

I remember, the time when my family got a new computer. It was way back in 1996, which partially worked in Command Prompt mode. And it was around the same time when the multimedia computers have started coming in the market. Am sure people who currently are in their 20’s and above will remember the games like Prince, Lionking, Alladin, Sky, etc. and the default games like Solitaire and Heart. Who knew times will change so drastically that you’ll need high end configured machines to play the games you see in the market!

And to top it all, times have changed to make way for customized gadgets, one for different use! I mean, it’s tough to even come to a conclusion whether one wants an all-in-one gadget or separate one for each work, to increase productivity? That’s the question one in the urban area fears to answer to, how much am I capable to carry around.

Unless you’re one person who’s completely into specialized forms like music or photography, going for something in general is better way to invest your money, plus save on energy. By that, all I meant was, have seen people carrying one gadget to listen to music, one for clicking photo’s, one for using the apps and another one to communicate with the world. My point is, why carry so many of them when you can make-do with one or two max? And the more gadget you carry, have to keep track of charging each of them every time!  

Talking about the cell phones, an interesting observation has noticed in cell phones. The earlier known models, like any other gadget, were big and bulky. Then came the era of having the smallest one, one could get. And now it's the time of big screens and qwerty keypads. That reminds me of this satirical joke. When questioned by a shopkeeper what cell phone he is looking for, prompt comes an answer "I want one which is the smallest and lightest but it should possess big screen as big as I can watch a film with my family." How innovative! Guess, it’s a perfect feedback a cell-phone maker can look for!

Moving to the tablets. Less said the better. All i can say is it’s for those who got extra cash and don’t know where to invest, so bought it. It does the same amount of work that your laptop or a cell phone does. So if you’re bored of it, that’s the new gadget to invest in!

So get a gadget, explore it’s trends and do the donkey work, in digital way!

Anyone listening?

Ya, so is anyone listening or are long lost in the music and dance to bid adieu to the elephant god?

It was 11:30 last night. I was just about to go off to bed. Suddenly right out of nowhere I hear super duper extra loud music startling me. My mom was sleeping and...and imagine her case. She woke up instantly.
We look at the time again. It was 11:31 PM.

I suppose you understood what am gonna talk about now. Ya, I always crib. When people just to show, do things, I crib.

Let me ask you something. Who'll have felt like supporting to the cause of Anna Hazare? I have no problem with him, but with the one's who support him. Check my previous blog on the issue and you'll know what am talking about. Here's the link
http://supraket.blogspot.com/2011/04/corrup-tion-or-corrupt-kaun.html

After you read through that, I suppose you know what am referring to.
Supreme Court in 2005 banned use of loud-speakers and orchestra or use of any musical instrument above certain decibel level (couldn't find the exact details to post here though) between 10 PM - 6 AM anywhere in the country.

The noise (ya I'd like to call it a noise) went on till 12-12:30 something, post which I couldn't hear at least around the vicinity of my earshot. No idea if at other places they were still on.
So, isn't corruption taking place here? Why, in the name of religion, it is not?
I do not have problems if people celebrate festival, but at least be considerate that you do not do it at other's expense, or sleep for that matter.

Again I'll say, fight corruption at grass-root level and it will create an impact at higher level too. Stop pointing fingers and creating events and calling it a revolution. The revolution happens if you believe in it yourself, with that others will adapt.

Guess have said enough. Those who understand, hope will help this world to be a better place to live. Others, I can only hope for the day they will.

A better place to live. That reminds me, few days ago a friend wrote something on the Visarjan. Am glad to share it here, whoever is interested to read about it.
http://miilee.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/visarjan-is-not-religion/

Well, that's about it. Hope you'll are doing fine.
Cheers! :)
...and I hope will have a peaceful night post 10 tonight....