Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
THOUGHT
Allow Your Own Inner Light to Guide You
There comes a time when you must stand alone.
You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams.
You must be willing to make sacrifices.
You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved.
Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.
There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities.
Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.
Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.
Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life.
Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.
There comes a time when you must stand alone.
You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams.
You must be willing to make sacrifices.
You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved.
Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.
There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities.
Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.
Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.
Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life.
Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.
JOKE-CREATION OF MAN
God created the mule, and told him, "You will be a mule, working constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass and lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years." The mule answered, "To live like this for 50 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20." And it was so. Then God created the dog, and told him, "You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years."
And the dog responded, "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog like that is too much. Please, no more than 10 years." And it was so. God then created the monkey, and told him, "You are monkey. You shall swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years."
And the monkey responded, "Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no than 10 years." And it was so. Finally, God created Man and told him, "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years."
And the man responded, "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 20 years the mule refused, the the 15 years the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey rejected." And it was so. And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 20 years like a mule working and carrying heavy loads on his back.
Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry.
Then, in his old age, to live 10 years as a monkey, acting like an idiot to amuse his grandchildren. And it is so.
And the dog responded, "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog like that is too much. Please, no more than 10 years." And it was so. God then created the monkey, and told him, "You are monkey. You shall swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years."
And the monkey responded, "Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no than 10 years." And it was so. Finally, God created Man and told him, "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years."
And the man responded, "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 20 years the mule refused, the the 15 years the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey rejected." And it was so. And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 20 years like a mule working and carrying heavy loads on his back.
Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry.
Then, in his old age, to live 10 years as a monkey, acting like an idiot to amuse his grandchildren. And it is so.
RIDDLES
SYMBOLS
M Needs math past arithmetic and basic probability.
C Requires knowing how to play chess.
P Physics knowledge is helpful.
>=P I don't know the solution to this problem myself.
CPU Requires calculator/computer power.
FORUM
1-GLOBE TRAVERSAL
how many places are there on the earth that one could walk one mile south, then one mile west, then one mile north and end up in the same spot? to be precise, let's assume the earth is a solid smooth sphere, so oceans and mountains and other such things do not exist. you can start at any point on the sphere. also, the rotation of the earth has nothing to do with the solution; you can assume you're walking on a static sphere if that makes the problem less complicated to you.
Hint 1: think you've figured it out? do you know that there's more than one? in fact, there are more than two. also note that walking north from the north pole (or south from the south pole) is illogical and therefore does not enter into the problem. all normal assumptions about directions will be used.
Hint 2: christopher columbus.
2-GHETTO ENCRYPTION I
You want to send a valuable object to a friend securely. You have a box which can be fitted with multiple locks, and you have several locks and their corresponding keys. However, your friend does not have any keys to your locks, and if you send a key in an unlocked box, the key could be copied en route. How can you send the object securely?
Alternative, more precise phrasing: Andy and Grant are staying in different rooms in the same hotel. Andy needs to give a gold pendant to Grant, but spies are trying to assassinate Andy and Grant so neither of them can leave their room. The only way they can transfer objects is by using the bellhops. Both Andy and Grant have a safe with a large clasp that can be secured with a padlock. Both Andy and Grant have a padlock and a corresponding key. (So 1 gold pendant, 2 safes, 2 padlocks, and 2 keys.) But the bellhops are thieves. Anything that is not padlocked in the safe will be stolen by the bellhops - including any unlocked padlocks, the keys or the pendant. How can Andy transfer the gold pendant to Grant without it being stolen? (where both sides have encryption capability, and where unsecured items are taken away rather than just copied?)
3-GHETTO ENCRYPTION II
Three coworkers would like to know their average salary. However, they are self-conscious and don't want to tell each other their own salaries, for fear of either being ridiculed or getting their houses robbed. How can they find their average salary, without disclosing their own salaries?
ADJACENCY GRID
arrange the numbers 1 to 8 in the grid below such that adjacent numbers are not in adjacent boxes (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).
1
6 4 3
2 7 5
8
the arrangement above, for example, is wrong because 3 and 4, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and 7 and 8 are adjacent.
4-FAUSTIAN ROUND TABLE COIN GAME
you die and the devil says he'll let you go to heaven if you beat him in a game. the devil sits you down at a round table. he gives himself and you a huge pile of quarters. he says "ok, we'll take turns putting quarters down, no overlapping allowed, and the quarters must rest on the table surface. the first guy who can't put a quarter down loses." you guys are about to start playing, and the devil says that he'll go first. however, at this point you immediately interject, and ask if you can go first instead. you make this interjection because you are very smart, and you know that if you go first, you can guarantee victory. explain how you can guarantee victory.
5-DOMINOES ON A CHESSBOARD
using 31 dominoes, where one domino covers exactly two squares, can you cover all the empty squares on this chessboard (which has only 62 spaces, since two opposite corner squares are removed). if so, how? if not, why? prove your claim.
MANHOLES.
M Needs math past arithmetic and basic probability.
C Requires knowing how to play chess.
P Physics knowledge is helpful.
>=P I don't know the solution to this problem myself.
CPU Requires calculator/computer power.
FORUM
1-GLOBE TRAVERSAL
how many places are there on the earth that one could walk one mile south, then one mile west, then one mile north and end up in the same spot? to be precise, let's assume the earth is a solid smooth sphere, so oceans and mountains and other such things do not exist. you can start at any point on the sphere. also, the rotation of the earth has nothing to do with the solution; you can assume you're walking on a static sphere if that makes the problem less complicated to you.
Hint 1: think you've figured it out? do you know that there's more than one? in fact, there are more than two. also note that walking north from the north pole (or south from the south pole) is illogical and therefore does not enter into the problem. all normal assumptions about directions will be used.
Hint 2: christopher columbus.
2-GHETTO ENCRYPTION I
You want to send a valuable object to a friend securely. You have a box which can be fitted with multiple locks, and you have several locks and their corresponding keys. However, your friend does not have any keys to your locks, and if you send a key in an unlocked box, the key could be copied en route. How can you send the object securely?
Alternative, more precise phrasing: Andy and Grant are staying in different rooms in the same hotel. Andy needs to give a gold pendant to Grant, but spies are trying to assassinate Andy and Grant so neither of them can leave their room. The only way they can transfer objects is by using the bellhops. Both Andy and Grant have a safe with a large clasp that can be secured with a padlock. Both Andy and Grant have a padlock and a corresponding key. (So 1 gold pendant, 2 safes, 2 padlocks, and 2 keys.) But the bellhops are thieves. Anything that is not padlocked in the safe will be stolen by the bellhops - including any unlocked padlocks, the keys or the pendant. How can Andy transfer the gold pendant to Grant without it being stolen? (where both sides have encryption capability, and where unsecured items are taken away rather than just copied?)
3-GHETTO ENCRYPTION II
Three coworkers would like to know their average salary. However, they are self-conscious and don't want to tell each other their own salaries, for fear of either being ridiculed or getting their houses robbed. How can they find their average salary, without disclosing their own salaries?
ADJACENCY GRID
arrange the numbers 1 to 8 in the grid below such that adjacent numbers are not in adjacent boxes (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).
1
6 4 3
2 7 5
8
the arrangement above, for example, is wrong because 3 and 4, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and 7 and 8 are adjacent.
4-FAUSTIAN ROUND TABLE COIN GAME
you die and the devil says he'll let you go to heaven if you beat him in a game. the devil sits you down at a round table. he gives himself and you a huge pile of quarters. he says "ok, we'll take turns putting quarters down, no overlapping allowed, and the quarters must rest on the table surface. the first guy who can't put a quarter down loses." you guys are about to start playing, and the devil says that he'll go first. however, at this point you immediately interject, and ask if you can go first instead. you make this interjection because you are very smart, and you know that if you go first, you can guarantee victory. explain how you can guarantee victory.
5-DOMINOES ON A CHESSBOARD
using 31 dominoes, where one domino covers exactly two squares, can you cover all the empty squares on this chessboard (which has only 62 spaces, since two opposite corner squares are removed). if so, how? if not, why? prove your claim.
MANHOLES.
POEM-TO A FRIEND
To A Friend..
A friend that is unique
A friend that is one of a kind
A friend that is perfect
A type of friend who is hard to find
A friend that is sweet
A friend that is perpetually fair
A friend that you know
Will always be there
A friend with an amazing spirit
A friend with a striking heart
A friend that is trustworthy
A friend that is smart
A friend that assuages your pain
A friend that can dry your tears
A friend with unrestricted love
A friend that can alleviate your fears
A friend with an exquisite smile
That could never be ignored
A friend that’s never been hurtful
A friend that is easily adored
A friend that is respectful
A friend who is loved by all
A friend that is relied upon
A friend to never let fall
A friend you can talk to
Her compassion is known by a glistening glow
Just by sparking her remarkable light
The whole world will know
What a great and amazing person she is
A friend I shall never forget
She is the greatest ever been known
Best of all the friends I’ve ever met…
A friend that is unique
A friend that is one of a kind
A friend that is perfect
A type of friend who is hard to find
A friend that is sweet
A friend that is perpetually fair
A friend that you know
Will always be there
A friend with an amazing spirit
A friend with a striking heart
A friend that is trustworthy
A friend that is smart
A friend that assuages your pain
A friend that can dry your tears
A friend with unrestricted love
A friend that can alleviate your fears
A friend with an exquisite smile
That could never be ignored
A friend that’s never been hurtful
A friend that is easily adored
A friend that is respectful
A friend who is loved by all
A friend that is relied upon
A friend to never let fall
A friend you can talk to
Her compassion is known by a glistening glow
Just by sparking her remarkable light
The whole world will know
What a great and amazing person she is
A friend I shall never forget
She is the greatest ever been known
Best of all the friends I’ve ever met…
STORY
Sri Aurobindo-
Known as a revolutionary - ascetic, patriot, philosopher and yogi, Sri Aurobindo was a many faceted brilliant personality. Born in Calcutta on 15th August 1872, he tried to assimilate both Indian and Western philosophical thoughts and find the paths of divine communion and spiritual realization.
Early Influences
His father, Dr. Krishnadhan Ghose, was an Anglophile, and so sent little Aurobindo to England to study at St. Paul's school in London and then at King's College, Cambridge. In 1890, he passed the I.C.S examination with flying colours, but as he did not want to serve the British, he disqualified himself. Instead, he returned to India and served in Baroda as a civil servant, a professor, and finally as Vice-Principal of Baroda College.
Nationalistic Fervour
In 1905, Aurobindo Ghose joined the freedom struggle of India. He was the revolutionary who encouraged direct political action against the British instead of moderate reformism. He began writing essays, poetry, dramas and fiery articles on nationalism that stirred India's political consciousness. In this phase, he was appointed editor of the controversial "Bande Mataram" and was prosecuted in 1908 and jailed in Alipur for a year.
The Aurobindo Ashram
It was during this time that he had a divine spiritual experience in the form of a vision of the all-pervading reality. This changed his life, and in 1909, when he was acquitted, he did not return to politics, but retired to Pondicherry to pursue yoga in order to realise the mysteries of consciousness. He established an ashram there in 1910 and spent his time in seclusion, writing eminent books and poetry like ' Life Divine', 'Essays on Gita', 'Basis of Yoga', 'Love and death' and 'Savitri'.
The Aurobindo Ashram attracts hordes of people from all around the world to come to Pondicherry, study, meditate and discover themselves and the true meaning of existence. In India, Sri Aurobindo is admired not only for his nationalistic fervour but also as an ascetic and philosopher with a divine vision to guide us into a new awakening.
Known as a revolutionary - ascetic, patriot, philosopher and yogi, Sri Aurobindo was a many faceted brilliant personality. Born in Calcutta on 15th August 1872, he tried to assimilate both Indian and Western philosophical thoughts and find the paths of divine communion and spiritual realization.
Early Influences
His father, Dr. Krishnadhan Ghose, was an Anglophile, and so sent little Aurobindo to England to study at St. Paul's school in London and then at King's College, Cambridge. In 1890, he passed the I.C.S examination with flying colours, but as he did not want to serve the British, he disqualified himself. Instead, he returned to India and served in Baroda as a civil servant, a professor, and finally as Vice-Principal of Baroda College.
Nationalistic Fervour
In 1905, Aurobindo Ghose joined the freedom struggle of India. He was the revolutionary who encouraged direct political action against the British instead of moderate reformism. He began writing essays, poetry, dramas and fiery articles on nationalism that stirred India's political consciousness. In this phase, he was appointed editor of the controversial "Bande Mataram" and was prosecuted in 1908 and jailed in Alipur for a year.
The Aurobindo Ashram
It was during this time that he had a divine spiritual experience in the form of a vision of the all-pervading reality. This changed his life, and in 1909, when he was acquitted, he did not return to politics, but retired to Pondicherry to pursue yoga in order to realise the mysteries of consciousness. He established an ashram there in 1910 and spent his time in seclusion, writing eminent books and poetry like ' Life Divine', 'Essays on Gita', 'Basis of Yoga', 'Love and death' and 'Savitri'.
The Aurobindo Ashram attracts hordes of people from all around the world to come to Pondicherry, study, meditate and discover themselves and the true meaning of existence. In India, Sri Aurobindo is admired not only for his nationalistic fervour but also as an ascetic and philosopher with a divine vision to guide us into a new awakening.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
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