Why the 2012 Theory is a Hoax

So you must have heard the widespread rumours that have been making its rounds in recent times that on precisely the 21st of December 2012, the world shall see its end. Some call it the apocalypse, while others call it doomsday. I call it bullshit.

You tell me – How on Earth is it possible for somebody, or even a community for that matter, to pinpoint the exact date, month and year, all in one, of the expiration date of the world. Disbelieving is the one word that I can come up with to describe this.

Theorists fuel their claim from two separate sources. The first one is based on the ancient Mayan calendar, which mysteriously comes to an abrupt end on the date stated above. The next claim is based on the controversial, grossly exaggerated prophecy of Nostradamus, a 16th century philosopher.

This rumourised theory has been gaining steam rapidly so much so it has become a part of pop culture. A plethora of books – fiction and non-fiction – have been written on this specific topic. Never ending debates have been raging since God knows when. And the best of it all, a movie has been created in its ‘honour’.

Now, to articulate my point of view, here are the reasons as to why the 2012 end-of-the-world theory is nothing but a hoax.

Mesoamerican Calendar

This calendar stipulates that its present cycle will conclude in December 2012. However, that doesn’t mean that the world would essentially come to an end as the cycle will restart once again. Although many scholars believed in the theory at first, but in-depth studies have led to suggest that there is no reason whatsoever to believe in it, and so this is now a non-valid reason to support the 2012 theory.

Nostradamus’s Predictions

Nostradamus was a 16th century philosopher who has written a collection of prophecies that have gained worldwide reception. However, his prophecies, written in rhyming quatrains, are very vague. People say that he predicted the 9/11 attacks, but in real truth, there isn’t proof to suggest that any of his prophecies have come true. If so, the 2012 prophecy might just have been an over-hyped thing, nothing more.

Planetary Collision

It is not quite possible that the world would end in such a way, not on the 21st of December 2012 at least. That is because if there was to be an inter-planetary or asteroid collision, scientists would have already alerted us as they keep track of all this objects in outer space. That is because by using their deep space probing devices, they are able to calculate the trajectories of planets and asteroids.

GOD

For all that we know, the greatness of God is infinite. It is beyond comprehendation. Therefore, God works in ways we humans know not of. When will we die? When will our dreams be realised? These are but a few questions that we have no answer to. Likewise, only God knows the answer to the question: When will the world end? Conclusively speaking, it’s simply absurd for one to claim to know when the world will end.

In short, I would just like to say that it is very foolish for someone to be a believer of the 2012 doomsday theory based on a couple of quarter-baked ideologies. Yes, the world will someday come to an end, but that is the prerogative of the Almighty himself.

The Rise of the Bollywood Movie Industry

The Bollywood movie industry is the second largest in the world, second only to Hollywood. It is based at India’s financial centre, Mumbai. Each year, hundreds of movies are produced under the linage of Bollywood, and the movies are in turn viewed by tens of millions of people.

In recent months, I have witnessed an amazing seismic change in the trend of Bollywood movies – the movies are now of much a more greater quality and are distinct in style as well as substance.

I remember that as recent as 2007/2008, Bollywood movies used to be centred on two main elements – romance and comedy whilst to a lesser extent, there used to be action films too and also the occasional movie depicting social struggles.

Firstly, the romance and love themed movies lacked contrasting variations and gripping emotional storylines. Films such as Kal Ho Na Ho, Devdas and Om Shanti Om were good to watch, but not entirely great!

Besides that, the sense of humour in comedy-genred films seemed to be clichéd and abhorrent to say the least, though I did have a good laugh at times. The similarity of plots is very evident in movies of this genre such as Gol Maal, Phir Hera Pheri and The Maal.

Speaking of action films, the likes of Dhoom and Krrish were short on explosive and dynamic features that usually define an action film. Needless to say, this only confirmed the inferiority of Bollywood compared to Hollywood in making appealing action flicks.

The one element that was least exploited by the movie makers and producers were films based on moral virtues, social hardships and our day-to-day practical lives. However, that fact has been rectified, and that too with a rousing success as directors have started to convey these messages with efficiency.

To start with, I watched 3 Idiots. Truth be told, the movie is anything but about 3 idiots. Instead, it is on the sheer intelligence of Rancho, who prefers practicality to theory. The movie has a glaring stroke of originality, and touched on the many social defuncts that envelope our community today.

Next, there was Paa. Though this movie did not get much reception, but it is another meaningful and touching movie that is centred on a 12 year old boy suffering from Progeria, an age-accelerating disease. The movie also had elements on how to win politics using a non-dirty path.

Presently, I hear from my friends that My Name Is Khan is another must-watch movie as it portrays the racial inequality that had to be endured by Muslims in the West post-9/11. And the lead character in this movie also has some sort of disorder.

So, why the sudden shift? Is it a coincidence or a gradual increase in the intellectual ability of the Bollywood filmmakers? My two-cents is that the Bollywood landscape has undergone a positive makeover, for it has matured, therefore delivering excellent quality films for viewers.

For instance, the movies are closer to the hearts of the people as they see it to be related to their everyday lives, and the growing number of disabilities, diseases and disorders that are being portrayed in Bollywood films give more awareness to the public and at the same time hope to those afflicted with these defects.

If this trend continues, then there is a good chance that Bollywood films would be able to successfully penetrate the Western markets, as the way in which these films are represented is far better than how Hollywood would produce a similar movie.

More importantly, the jokes and slapstick comedy that make up this new generation movies are fresh, and they have a more cerebral value to it, not at all like the lame old comedy-genred Bollywood films.

No doubt Bollywood is far away as compared to Hollywood in producing seat-edging action films, but by focusing more of its energy on creating even better new-generation films that touch the hearts of the masses would consolidate the rise of the Bollywood filmmaking industry.

The Top Social Networking Services

In today’s world, it is an almost inconceivable thought to live without the solace of social networking sites. That is not surprising as almost all urban youngsters are hooked-on on one or more social networking service – depending on what their group of friends use.

Over the past few years, social networking has been on the rise, and that too rapidly. In actuality, the purpose of a social network service is to focus on building and reflecting social networks and social relations among people, which is essentially done via the representation of a user through his or her profile.

Social network services also help to establish an online community – sometimes consisting entirely of total strangers unbeknown to one another. These social network services provide modes of interaction between one another through the Internet using instant messages, forums or e-mails.

Inevitably, the mushrooming of social network services has led to a direct impact to the lives of youths. They see it as an avenue to stray beyond the social borders that have been imposed on them by either the society or their parents, for social network services are basically devoid of any hard and fast rules.

Demographers have come about the conclusion that there is still more to come from social network services. Areas that can still be tapped into include using social network services to do social good, such as hosting online fundraisers for earthquake hit regions.

Here, I have featured five of the top social network services in the world. As it is, every few years, we would witness the emergence of a new social service whilst older ones would die. Therefore, this list could look very much different in a couple of year’s time.

Facebook

This is unquestionably the leading social network service that is around in the world for the time being. Boasting around 350 million users, Facebook has been in operation since 2006. Interestingly, the concept and name of Facebook derives from the colloquial name of books that are given to undergraduates at the start of their terms in the US to get to know one another better.

MySpace

Once the premier social network service, MySpace was overtaken by Facebook in 2008. It is owned by Fox Interactive Media and it copied the Friendster concept. After mimicking its more prominent features, MySpace came to being in the year 2003. MySpace has some unique features such as a TV, news stream and forums. It is still very much popular in the US.

Twitter

Twitter differs from its fellow social networking services – it is a microblogging service with a maximum cap of 140 characters. These messages are known as ‘tweets’. Twitter was created in 2006 and it has been popularly referred to as the ‘SMS of the Internet’. Users can follow influential figures as well as their friends, and also send out their own ‘tweets’ to let the world know what they are up to.

Hi5

This is not the most popular of social network services, but it has a commendable user base of over 60 million people since its inception since 2003. There isn’t much to talk about Hi5, as it functions on basically the same concept as Facebook and MySpace. Users can upload pictures, host a music player on their site and also comment on their friends’ profiles.

Friendster

Initially one of the leading social network services, Friendster has seen its stock fall as it has failed to keep up with the pace of its competitors. Although it is the fifth most popular social network service currently, it is expected to fall even lower, with it presently depending heavily on traffic from Asia. However, unlike Facebook, users can heavily customise their Friendster profiles.

So, which is your preferred destination for social networking? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

An Overview of the Winter Olympics

Heard of the Winter Olympic games that are presently ongoing in Vancouver, Canada? Well, maybe not as it isn't as widely recognised as the traditional Summer Olympics in many parts of the world.

Living in Malaysia, I had never watched these games, although I find it intriguing as sports such as speed skating, bobsleighing and ice hockey make for a great spectacle. As a result of that, my inquisitiveness to find out more regarding this games has led me to do a short entry regarding the Winter Olympics and the sports that are featured in it.

As it is, nations that participate in the Winter Olympic are usually nations that undergo the phenomenon of four seasons, where there is snow during winter. Therefore, countries located close to the equator, or where it doesn’t snow, generally wouldn’t participate in these games.

The first Winter Olympic games was initiated in the year 1924, and it has been ongoing at every four year intervals thereafter. Additionally, the Winter Olympics always take place two years after the Summer Olympics.

The growth of the Winter Olympics has seen a meteoric rise in recent years as it has undergone commercialisation. Besides increasing the profile of the games, this has seen it create an alternative income stream in the form of broadcasting and advertising rights.

Interestingly, all of the hosts of the Winter Olympics have so far originated from the Northern Hemisphere. The United States have organised the games four times, whilst nations such as Norway, Japan, Canada, Austria and Switzerland have hosted it twice each.

Now, let us have a look at a few of the sports that have featured prominently in the rooster of the Winter Olympics for the past few editions of the games.

Bobsled

Bobsled is a sport in which a team of two or four make timed runs down banked, narrow and twisting tracks using gravity-powered sleds. It is also known as bobsleigh. This sport evolved from delivery sleds and toboggans. It has featured in all bar one edition of the Olympic Games.

Ice Hockey

        

Initially an amateur-only affair, Ice Hockey in the Winter Olympics has opened its doors to professional players from the NFL. In the history of the games, the most successful nation has been Canada. However, this sport has been gripped with constant cases of use of banned drugs.

Speed Skating

Speed skating is probably the equivalent to the sprint events in the Summer Olympics. It is carried out over the distances of 500, 1000, 1500, 5000 and 10000 meters respectively. The traditional powerhouse in this event has been the United States.

Snowboarding

This sport was only introduced to the Olympics in the year 1992. There are a few disciplines of this sport, mainly downhill racing, known as the giant slalom, half-pipe, where athletes use tricks to showcase their talents and the snowboard cross, where competitors have to overcome numerous obstacles.

Ski Jumping

This is an event that is only reserved for men, although there was a plea to include the women recently. In ski jumping, the competitors are required to jump from a hill, usually between 90 to 120 meters high. The competitor who lands the furthest away from the start-point would be the winner.

Skeleton

Also known as tobogganing, this sport requires athletes to ride a sled down a frozen track while lying face down. It is no doubt a fast paced sport, and athletes are said to overcome forces up to 5 times the force of gravity. It is a dangerous sport as there are no braking mechanisms for these sleds.

There are many other sports in addition to the six sports that have been featured here. Anyways, feel free to share your thoughts regarding the Winter Olympics by dropping a comment below.

When Tiger Said Sorry

You gotta be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of Tiger Woods for the wrong reasons in the news recently. Well, I am not going to go into the details regarding his extramarital exploits, but instead, let’s just analyse and see how much trouble and mess this has put him into.

First things first – One of the main dark forces that will try to entail every human being on the face of this planet is lust. It doesn’t only apply to men; it is the same for women too. And if this lustful desire of the mind is not kept in check, then we are bound to put ourselves in hot soup... ‘Tiger Woods’ style.

Actually, I am not an avid golf fan, nor did I really look up to Tiger Woods in the past, but for the amazing man he was, I always admired him. After all, he is the most successful sportsman in terms of personal fortune in history. Not only that, but he always seemed to be a calm and charismatic figure while playing golf.

For that very reason, people were shocked after the beans were spilled regarding his affairs with a dozen or so women. Many asked themselves, “Could Tiger really have done that?”, since this contradicted with their initial perception of him.

Though a bitter pill to swallow, but the reality is that he did have affairs. And he has owned up to his mistakes, like a real man. He confessed, “I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behaviour I engaged in. For all that I have done, I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for.”

However, is that the end of the story? Say a sorry and return back to live life normally? It can’t be so because he caused so much of pain and heartbreak for his wife, Elin Nordegren. Not just that, but he literally drew chalk on her face by shaming her in public.

The fact is you can’t just erase a mistake like that for the damage has already been done. And definitely not a full-blown, publicly informed mistake like his. The scar will surely be deep, but I have got to applaud Tiger Woods for taking the first step to reconciliation, that is by publicly apologising for his wrongdoings.

Herein, there lies a message for us all. No matter how wealthy, how famous you are, but no one would like you when you do things like what Tiger Woods had done. Just see, all of his major sponsors have left him. The moral of the story is that we should never, not ever, be an infidel to the sanctity of the institution of marriage by having extramarital affairs.

A Delve Into Search Engines

In this present age of information technology, the Internet is practically the gateway to paradise. Without the Internet, so many things would seem impossible – no chatting on MSN, no Facebook, no You Tube, no Wikipedia and the list can go on.

Not only that, but without the Internet, there would be no need for search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing. Today, these search engines play an integral role in helping people to navigate to a desired website, blog or anything for that matter by just typing in the keywords of what they are searching for.

The being of search engines has benefited many people, me and you included. Say, for example, we need to find some information regarding our school history project, or want to do a research for our university thesis, or even want to find a job, all we have to do is go to any given search engine and there we are.

But no, it’s not magic! Search engines operate mainly on complex algorithms, supported by human input at times. First, the ‘spiders’ will crawl through web pages and store the information that it has picked up. Then, after analysing these pieces of information, the search engines will index the web pages. Only after that would we be able to search for those web pages.

To cut the long story short, I have compiled the three most common search engine operators of today below. Have a read and let me know which search engine do you primarily use by leaving a comment below. If you are wondering which is mine, it's Google. And of course, these are not the only Search Engines out there, but they are generally the more popular ones.

Google Search

I guess Google needs no introduction. I mean, it is the most-used search engine, amassing 86% of all search queries made on the Web. Founded in the year 1997 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google has now become more than just a search engine – it is an icon, a brand, a global phenomenon.

Something elusive about Google is that it indexes its search results based on the Google Page Rank. In simple terms, the higher the Page Rank of a webpage, the higher it’s listing on the search results, with the maximum Page Rank attainable being 10. The Page Rank of this blog is currently 2, which is not bad actually.

Yahoo! Search

In terms of the percentage of the total search queries made on the Web, Yahoo!, which was launched in 1995, ranks second to Google at around 6%. Currently, Yahoo! is powered by Bing, which means it doesn’t really have its own system to index web pages among others. Once upon a time, Yahoo! was widely used by many, but the rise of Google just knocked it off its perch.

Now, Yahoo! is mainly used as an alternative mode of searching for information on the Web. However, there are certain quality features of Yahoo!, such as the selection-based search called Yahoo! Shortcuts and the search scan which alerts users of unsafe search results that might contain viruses and bring harm to your computer.

Bing

Formerly known as MSN Search, Bing was launched by Microsoft in 2009 to keep the domination of Google in particular in check. It acted as a rebranding exercise to give Bing a new look to challenge the superiority of Google. Plus, with the experience of the Microsoft intellects at Bing’s disposal, it has much to offer.

Some notable features of Bing include the picturesque backgrounds that always complement its search box on its homepage, and a 'related searches' tab on the left of the list of search results. Currently, Bing is ranked third behind Yahoo! and Google, but I believe that in time to come, the ultimate motive of displacing Google as the top search engine provider will drive Bing to success.

Survey

I decided to do a survey in conjunction with this blog post. Therefore, I asked 26 of my friends and family members the following question: "Which search engine do you usually use - Yahoo!, Google or Bing?" The result of my survey is presented above.

-The End-

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Movie Review

The ancient, fabled and legendary Olympians come back to life in Chris Columbus’s amazing and classy latest feature film, entitled ‘Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief’ that has been adapted from Rick Riordan’s similarly titled novel.

The central idea, or rather the mystery that charts the direction of the movie is that Zeus’s lightning bolt has been stolen. It is the most powerful bolt, and weapon, that any god can acquire. And all fingers point towards Percy Jackson, a young boy suffering from ADHD and dyslexia who happens to be the offspring of Poseidon, the god of the seas.

The plot thickens thereafter. For a start, Percy knows not of his godly powers, and of course, he knows he didn’t steal the lightning bolt. So, there is someone out there who is bent on taking advantage of Percy by framing him and making him a scapegoat.

As Percy travels from one place to another along with his two buddies, Annabeth, the daughter of Athena and the jovial Grover, a half-human half-goat, known as a satyr, in a bid to prove his innocence, they have to endure numerous trials and tribulations.

One thing that sets this movie apart from many other movies correlated to the ancient Greek mythology is the way in which it is able to seamlessly condense the mythological gods into the present day modern world. Plus, with the gods having children, it makes the story much more interesting.

Of course, due credit has to be given to Riordan for his brilliant novel on which basis the story is centred, but the good movie graphics and film effects are the brainchild of the director. Furthermore, the way in which the director is able to convey the story in an engaging and appealing manner has to be applauded.

In addition to that, don’t forget the cast. Logan Lerman, who plays Percy, has revelled in his biggest project thus far. He enthuses much life into his character. Alexandra Dodario, whose character is Annabeth, also stars in her biggest assignment prior to this movie while Brandon T.Jackson, who plays Grover, delivers a nonchalant yet sublime performance.

Although the chief characters in the movie are mostly unknown quantities to the world at large, bigger names such as Sean Bean, Uma Thurman and Pierce Brosnan add quality and experience to the line-up of the cast, though they play smaller roles in the movie.

On a separate note, I would say that the movie isn't really an action flick. Instead, it is geared more towards adventure. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if elderly folks don’t quite like this movie, but surely those who are younger will like it.

Certain scenes in the movie, for instance when Percy battles Annabeth in a mock war-like game where she boasts she had never lost before or when they dance to Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ in Las Vegas while searching for a pearl are my favourite parts of the movie. I also liked the part where they paid a visit to hell!

Unlike many, I hadn’t read the novel nor viewed the trailer before watching this movie. Therefore, I just went into the cinema with a clear head not having a clue on what was going to happen next, which I feel fueled the suspense even more.

On the overall, this is a superb movie that would give you a worthy return for your money. I am sure you would have a good time watching the movie, and if you like it, which I think you would, a sequel that is slated for release in the year 2012 would be awaiting you. 

The Verdict

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

A Lotus Comeback After 16 Years

After just five months worth of preparations, Lotus has returned to the Formula One scene after a layoff of 16 years. Initially out of the running of a place on the Formula One grid, the team was given a grid slot at the eleventh-hour.

The long wait for the launch of the car has finally ended too. On the 12th of February, the team launched its car at its Norfolk base in the UK. The car sports a combination of predominantly green and a blend of yellow as its colour scheme, which are the traditional colours of the Lotus brand.

Actually, Lotus’s feat in getting its car fired up in five months is anything but sublime. That is because most new teams in the recent past had taken over the base and technology of its previous owners. For example, Brawn had taken over the remains of the Honda team whilst the Force India team had taken over the reins at Spyker.

So, Lotus had to essentially put up a team from its very essence. The engineers, designers and other staffs had to undergo interviews before being signed. Then, the car had to be planned from nothing as they had no previous model to work on. It had to get the sponsors too, in addition to picking the right drivers that would be spearheading their challenge this coming season.

One of the main reasons as to why this has been possible is because of the level of commitment and devotion that has been showed by the Lotus team principal, Tony Fernandes. For the maverick he is, he has got everything sorted out for the team.

His wide experience in the corporate sector has been a boon too. Add that to the technical intelligence of Mike Gascoyne and you get a team never lacking in inspiration to go the full distance. 

Many would not be aware of the fact that it was under the banner of this team that the legendary Formula One racer Aryton Senna once drove for. There is much history and heritage to the name of Lotus, as it had been synonymous with the international motorsports arena years ago. Therefore, the present Lotus team face a daunting task, which is to live up to its reputation.

As a Malaysian, I feel a high level of patriotism to this venture that has been made by the Malaysian government and a group of high-profile Malaysian entrepreneurs. When the Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak, announced on the 15th of September that Malaysia was going to be directly involved in Formula one, many people raised a suspicious eyebrow. “What a dream...” I thought.

That ‘dream’, however, is no more a mere dream. It has become a part of reality, and this has proven doubters, me included, terribly wrong. With this, Malaysia as a nation stands to gain a lot. With plans in the pipelines to bring the whole operation to Sepang, the corresponding R&D (Research and Development) and technological gains would be an asset to the nation.

Not only that, but for people like me, this has given the platform for Malaysians to pursue a career in motorsports engineering. That is because I aspire to be a renowned Formula One race car engineer some day, and with this, it has made me realise that I am a tad closer to achieving that dream.

Whatever happens this coming season would be irrelevant to Lotus’s long term project. For this is their first season, it would be a steep learning curve. So, they would be finding their feet this season, and in the process learn as much as they can to launch a serious title challenge next season. However, don’t count them out as they could very well spring a surprise.

My 2010 SPM Examinations

This year, I would be facing the biggest, and possibly live-charting, exams of my life – the SPM examinations! My future pretty much hinges on the results that I would obtain. Although I am no fan of textbook mugging or spending excessive hours doing questions and revising, I have no choice here. Like it or not, I got to get the results, no matter what.

We students fret whenever we hear of exams, so what more when we hear of SPM! Short for ‘Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia’, this examination is a prerequisite for any Malaysian citizen. To say the least, this has put many students under tremendous pressure that they could be better off without. Luckily though, I am not stressed out by this. Not yet at least!

However, this year, the rules of the game has changed a bit. The Education Ministry has capped the number of exams that are to be taken into account for the final standings to 10. And guess what, some say 10 only!

Anyways, I have already picked my 10 subjects and sent in the official form. The subjects that I would be taking are listed below, along with a brief commentary on each of it. Wish me some luck guys, for I would need it. And if you are wondering why isn't Biology on the list, that is because I dropped it.

Bahasa Malaysia

This being the official language of Malaysia, it comes as no surprise that in order to get an overall pass for SPM, you first got to pass the Bahasa Malaysia exam. The ‘sastera’ (literature) component is my Achilles heel, but I believe that the A is not far from my grasp as I have the basic foundation in this subject well-placed. And my teacher says I got to work on my handwriting too!

English

Many say that English is an easy subject. But I beg to differ. No doubt, it looks simple, but I have seen many people not getting an A when they were poised to do so. Therefore, I wouldn’t like to be overconfident when sitting for the English paper because overconfidence can sometimes lead to disastrous results. Nevertheless, an A is my goal for this subject.

Mathematics

This has been my favourite subject ever since I stepped into schooling life. Hence, what better way to cap it all off with another A. For some reason or another, year after year, Maths has been my strongest subject, but I never tasted 100 marks because.....you guessed it right – callous mistakes took its toll on me. Whatever it is, only an A in SPM would do for Maths.

Sejarah

I used to like Sejarah (History) during my days in the lower secondary, but not anymore. Back then, an A used to be a formality, but currently, this is my weakest subject – by a margin too that is. Instead of fighting for better grades, I only can obtain a D at the very most. So, I need to pull my socks up and aim for the top, or all is lost. Oh no, I am gonna hate this!

Moral

I didn’t learn much of the Moral subject during my lower secondary times, and so, I faced a reality shock after having to sit for the exams in Form 4. And guess what, I got the lowest mark in my whole school (27)! But things have changed since then. There really isn’t much to study and mug in Moral, but the marking scheme is very rigid. I am keeping my fingers crossed for an A.

Chemistry

It used to be one of my better subjects last year but due to severe slacking in my work, my marks slid down the order. Now, I have got my act back together and I believe that with some more practice, and by constantly paying attention in class, an A is highly feasible.

Accounts

Since I like numbers, my Accounts is pretty well taken care of. Though there are many formats, I don’t believe in simply memorising them, for its better to understand and then remember them. If you know your way around well enough, Accounts isn't really that tough a subject. It’s like – you know it or you don’t. All out for an A!

Additional Mathematics

I have had sort of a romance with Add Maths for the past one year for I used to devout a higher percentage of my time for Add Maths compared for the other subjects. I aimed for 100 marks last year, but lacked the punch to achieve it. Anyway, I would try again this year for my trial exams. So for SPM, I just got to maintain my results and I am sure the A will follow suit.

Physics

I started on the wrong foot last year – I completely neglected my Form 4 Physics! But since my ambition is to become a race car engineer, there is no other way around but to do well for this subject. The formulas are beginning to come to me. Hopefully, that is a good sign. As it has been all throughout, I am still counting on an A for Physics.

Punjabi

This is my cultural language, and sort of my mother tongue. I have been preparing for the Punjabi paper for years I guess. Though I have to say it isn’t quite as interesting as English, but still, for the sake of my heritage I am taking it. My Punjabi needs some brushing up and polishing, and once that is settled, I think I am good to go and nick an A.

Feel free to share your thoughts regarding the SPM examinations, and if you are sitting for it this year, what are the subjects that you would be taking.

The Tallest Buildings in the World

Centuries ago, the greatness of cities were measured based on the unique artistic values of their buildings, among others. But now, that is not the case anymore. It seems that to be a classy city, the city has got to have high-rise buildings.

So, as the competition of high-rise buildings and towers has stiffened over the years, we see more and more records of such structures tumbling, and faster than ever that is. Here, I have compiled a list comprising of five of the tallest buildings in the world. I am sure you would be amazed after reading about the following mega-structures.

Burj Khalifa

This is by far the tallest building on planet Earth. It measures a staggering 828m and the building is located in downtown Dubai. The project reportedly cost US$1.5 Billion! The ‘Burj’ functions as a hotel, residential unit, tourist spot and also houses corporate offices. All in all, it took about six years for the completion of the building. The building has undoubtedly become the image of the wealthy United Arab Emirates.

Taipei 101

This building sports a unique design, and also not forgetting that it is the second-tallest building in the world, measuring 509m in length, though some 300m lesser than the Burj Khalifa. It has become an icon of the modern Taiwan. The building was officiated on New Year’s Day in 2005 and cost some US$1.76 Billion. Among its uses are as a communication hub and observation deck. Additionally, the Taipei 101 is able to withstand strong earthquakes and typhoons.

Shanghai World Financial Centre

This is another structure with a distinctive design. Located at the populous city of Shanghai in China, this building has multi-purposes. It was opened to public in April 2008 and its length is 492m.One record it holds is that it houses the tallest hotel in the world, which is the Park Hyatt Shanghai hotel. The expenditure of this project amounted to some US$1.2 Billion. As proof of its grandeur, it has won numerous international awards.

Petronas Twin Towers

This was once the tallest building in the world. Though it still is the tallest twin towers, it has now dropped to fourth placing for the overall category. Opened in the year 1998, the Petronas Twin Towers has been a constant source of pride for Malaysians. Standing at 452m, it took six years to be completed, and cost US$1.6 Billion. The building mainly leases office spaces to many global companies, besides serving as the headquarters of Petronas.

Willis Tower

Previously known as the Sears Tower, the Willis Tower was erected in the year 1973. For more than two decades, it held the recognition as the world’s tallest building. It is located in Chicago, USA, and could have been taller but for the limitations imposed to protect air traffic. In 2006, the authorities foiled a plot by terrorist organisations to destroy the tower.

Which is your pick as the best tallest building? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

When Dinosaurs Roamed The Earth

I was browsing through the papers a while ago and I came across an article entitled “Dinosaur Footprints Found in China”. After reading through that piece of article, I paused for a while and thought, “What was Earth like when there were dinosaurs?”

Maybe, when the dinosaurs graced the world, the scenario was like how it was pictured in the Jurassic Park movie, or perhaps like how it was cooked up to be in the Land Before Time collection of animated films. The thing is, we cannot know for sure how it actually was, not for the moment at least.

I think dinosaurs were ghastly, beastly, mean animals. Or perhaps, even worse than animals. I mean, we definitely like to see T-Rexes in movies, but imagine you getting chased down ruthlessly by one, and then the guy gorges on your flesh with delight.

If the dinosaurs were to exist now, even the so-called herbivorous dinosaurs such as the ‘Long Neck’ would be dangerous. That's because if it weren’t to eat you up, it would have you smashed flat to the ground after having its gargantuan feet on your body. And you would be smashed meat!

But for some reason or another, dinosaurs were fated not to coincide with the timeline of the ‘Homo Sapiens’, the species of which we originate from. Scientists have proven that dinosaurs had gone extinct some 65 million years ago, long before the fist human set foot on Earth.

If we cannot picture how the Earth was with the existence of the dinosaurs, then how about this – predicting what was it that sealed their fate, in the sense that what was the cause of their apparently sudden departure from the face of our planet.

Theorists have come up with numerous unfounded theories. Like the one I read in the papers, it said that all the footprints of the dinosaurs that were discovered were facing in one direction. It stated that a panic migration was underway when all of a sudden, an Almighty force intervened and, all was gone.

Well, that’s just not about it. I remember reading elsewhere that asteroids, massive floods and climate change could be the root cause of this. Whatever it is, we leave this topic open for discussion to those from the paleontology fraternity.

Anyway, with all the bones and fossils that have been dug up all through these years, at least the human race know the bodily structure and appearance of those strong and versatile beasts that come in all shapes and sizes.

The best part is that I have heard many children saying that they wished dinosaurs were still on this planet. Actually, I used to hope for that too. A bit of panic every now and again wouldn’t be so bad after all, would it?

So, what are your opinions on dinosaurs? Do you seriously wish they still existed, or would you rather want to see them for real in a museum? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment. Thank you!

'All Iz Well' in '3 Idiots'

‘3 Idiots’ is one of the most meaningful movies that I have seen throughout my life. Infused with some wacky sense of comedy at times, it stars the widely-acclaimed Aamir Khan alongside Sharman Joshi and R.Madhavan as the main characters in the movie. Kareena Kapoor is the lead actress.

Don't get put-off by the name of the movie, for the movie is anything but about three idiots. Many people, me included, thought this was going to be a foolish movie with petty comedy but that surely wasn't the case. Thus, it is no surprise that this movie has broken the Bollywood box-offive record.

The central-idea to the movie is that Rancho (Khan), Raju (Joshi) and Farhan (Madhavan) are living together in the campus of their university, which is the fictional Imperial College of Engineering, one of the best of its kind in the whole of India. As the name of the college sounds, the three of them are enrolled there to study engineering.

The movie starts in real-time but about quarter of an hour into the movie, the flashback starts. The college episode is all part of the flashback, which is narrated by Farhan.

Actually, the beginning of the plot is regarding the date ‘Sep 5’. It was ten years back that a nerdy maniac, Chatur Ramalingam, had placed a bet with Rancho on who would be successful in life in ten years time.

And so, it was 10 years already, and Chatur called on Raju and Farhan to follow him to meet Rancho, to see who was indeed more successful in life. And then, as they travel to find Rancho, who had disappeared, they had to undergo a lot of detours. One of the climax of the story is when viewers find out Rancho isn’t actually Rancho. But you would only understand by watching the movie.

As their journey to search for Rancho progressed, the flashback on what transpired 10 years back made the whole picture much clearer. Their life at college was obviously the focus of the flashback.

From that, viewers know that Rancho was a bright student with bags of potential but he disliked the education system which was all directed towards who-has-the-most-marks kind a type of thing.

Many a times, he would challenge the professors and lecturers at the classes with his rhetorical ideas. He even challenged the head of the campus, Professor Sahastrabudhhe, with his uncanny fundamentals. The Professor was absolutely ticked off by Rancho’s behavior and was totally fed up with him.

The Professor always said, “Life is a race....” And as Rancho got more out-of-hand in the eyes of the Professor, he attempted to break the strong friendship bond between Rancho and Raju and Farhan. Professor Sahastrabudhhe did so by calling Raju’s and Farhan’s parents and informing them of the menace in the form of Rancho who was disturbing their children’s education.

Although Rancho was always lambasting the professors and didn’t pay much attention in class, he used to claim the top-spot in the exams. This is a stark contrast to what his two friends used to get – they were always at the rear-end of the marks list. This caused Raju to reconsider his friendship with Rancho at one point.

I wouldn’t like to spoil your appetite in wanting to watch the movie, so I would leave the rest of the story to you. Just to add on a little bit more, Pia (Kapoor), the daughter of Professor Sahastrabudhhe, began developing feelings for Rancho, much to the dismay of her father.

On a personal note, I like the movie most because of its messages which can be closely related to our daily lives. For instance, parents who pre-determine the fate of their children’s careers the moment they are born.

The other messages range from students who commit suicide due to the pressure of education to the rigid education system in which nerdy individuals who memorize textbooks are rewarded whilst visionary budding talents are wasted.

The mantra coined by Rancho, “All Iz Well”, reflects Rancho’s belief that we should focus on the present and live it as it is, instead of worrying over the future in the case of Raju, who used to constantly think of the fate of his yet unmarried 28 year-old sister.

In addition to that, Rancho’s dislike of the default education system in India would lead him to start his own school that is conducive to the growth of budding talents. He says in the movie, “Choose excellence – and success will follow.”

There is much more to the movie than what I have penned here. Perhaps, my explanation would do no justice to the real greatness of the movie. My sincere advice is for you to watch the movie.

Even if you are not Hindi-literate, just watch it for quite a bit of the talking is done in English. The sure thing here is that the movie has a very deep meaning and it is something different to what we are used to watching.

The Verdict:

Overall Rating: 9/10

Have you watched '3 Idiots'? If yes, what are your reservations? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.