Generosity

People who believe they are more special / rich are less generous apparently than those who think they are more average / poor. Interesting.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/are_the_rich_really_less_generous?utm_source=GG+Newsletter+Dec+23+2015&utm_campaign=GG+Newsletter+Dec+23+2015&utm_medium=email

Happy people don't live any longer than unhappy people as per this study: 
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_happiness_really_help_you_live_longer?utm_source=GG+Newsletter+Dec+23+2015&utm_campaign=GG+Newsletter+Dec+23+2015&utm_medium=email - It's sickness that causes unhappiness and mortality. Unhappiness is the effect and not the cause of sickness. 

Interesting. Astrologically (vedic), Saturn is the cause of sorry, misery and long life. 

Additional reading:
On generosity, happiness and well being: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_four_keys_to_well_being?utm_source=Newsletter+Mar+23%2C+2016&utm_campaign=GG+Newsletter+Mar+23+2016&utm_medium=email

Dark Web

• http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3akshT/:SfZnZEQP:Mz.hzh1Y/www.popsci.com/dark-web-revealed
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_web
• How to: http://www.sickchirpse.com/deep-web-guide/ and https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-deep-web-and-how-do-you-access-it
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepDotWeb
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Things_Vice
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road_(marketplace)
• http://pastebin.com/ADTynHbX

Qualities Of A Complete Woman

Seven qualities: http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/-/691260/1148676/-/format/xhtml/-/cits6x/-/index.html

When Your Android Phone Is Lost / Misplaced

https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager: Use this link to ring the phone.

Going To Bangladesh Border

Take the local train from Sealdah to Gede (about 115km, 2:45 hr travel time or take the local to Bangaon from Sealdah (even shorter distance). Read the comment by Shiver Me Timbers in the link for an interesting journey.

Additional reading:

• Bengal, Nepal: https://agreatgrandadventure.wordpress.com/

Online Teaching

http://www.listsandyou.com/2013/08/5-best-websites-for-online-teaching-jobs.html

https://www.vedantu.com/v/benefits

Pricing And Fintech Startups

http://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasharf/2015/12/10/the-end-of-fees-lessons-from-amazon-for-fintech-startups/

Dilip Kumar Turns 93 Today

I was watching the 1952 movie (in color too) Aan today. Dilip Kumar was 30 years old then. He completes 93 today. Beautiful songs by Rafi with music by Naushad.

Nadira and Nimmi acted in the movie along with Dilip Kumar.

National Herald Scam

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?__tn__=E&_ft_=qid.6226700860624511405%3Amf_story_key.7008634374579157190&_rdr=p&fbid=10153630544745266&id=603610265&refid=8&set=a.10151834680015266.1073741825.603610265

Simplified.

Municipal Waste Transport And Utility Distribution

This post is primarily about Design and Analysis of Waste Water Transport  / Collection Systems and Drinking water transport - it may incidentally contain some information or links to waste water treatment but treatment is not the subject that interests me now. Look specifically for "Sanitary sewer" and "Sewage collection and disposal".

• http://saiindia.gov.in/english/home/public_folder/professional_practices_group/state_local_manual/PUDUCHERRY_MANUAL/Wad%20Manual/Sewerage.pdf Quotes from this link:
• People density calculated to 311 persons / Hectare (depends on FSI and area available for residential development taken to be 56% of total area)
• Total sewage water is approximately 80% of per capita water consumption subject to a minimum of 100 LPD per person (LPD = liters per day). In case where river water is used (typically in industries), the same would cause additional sewage that is in excess of per capita water consumption. How is this to be estimated?
• The peak flow (max surge) may be taken to be twice the average flow in cities. The ratio may be higher for areas with smaller population. The minimum flow may be a 1/2 to 1/3rd of the average flow.
• Provision to be made for storm water - it is generally better to have storm water to be handled separately from sewage water. Storm sewers address this. Sewer scenes in the movies The Fugitive, "Die Hard" (where Bruce Willis open a manhole to get into the subway station) and another Die Hard (probably are storm water sewers since the hero could walk into it and in it. 
• "A properly functioning sewer has to carry the peak flow for which it is designed and transport suspended solids in such a manner that deposits in a sewer are kept to a minimum."
• "It is desirable to design sewers for higher velocity wherever possible... Velocity is little influenced by pipe diameter...
• The minimum diameter of public sewer may be 150 mm. In hilly areas, where extreme slope are prevalent, the size of sewer may be 100 mm."
• Maximum permissible velocity will vary from 1.4 to 3.0 m/sec depending on the type of pipe. The pipe has to be laid a min of 1m below the surface in order to protect it from external damage.
• "A manhole is an opening constructed in the alignment of a sewer for facilitating a person to access the sewer for the purpose of inspection, testing, cleaning and removal of obstruction of the sewer line. Spacing: Manhole should be built at every change of alignment, gradient or diameter at the head of all sewers and branches and at every junction of two or more sewers. A spacing allowance of 100 m per 1 m dia of sewer is a general rule in case of very large sewer...
• The width / diameter of the manhole should not be less than the internal diameter of the sewer plus 150 mm benching on both sides (150 mm + 150 mm)."
• "Use of MS pipes should be avoided since MS pipes are very much prone to chemical and septic corrosion..."
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanitary_sewer (this is the interesting part)
• "A sanitary sewer (also called a foul sewer and a covered sewer) is an underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings through pipes to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater. The system of sewers is called sewerage. Sanitary sewers are distinguished from open sewers in that the sanitary system is closed off from its surroundings to limit interaction between the waste and the landscape that it travels through. They are also usually distinguished from combined sewers, which handle not only sewage but also surface runoff. Open sewers, consisting of gutters and urban streambeds, were common worldwide before the 20th century. In most of the developed countries, large efforts were made during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to cover the formerly open sewers, converting them to closed systems with cast iron, steel, or concrete pipes, masonry, and concrete arches. Open sewers are not used in developed countries today, but they remain in use in many developing countries." 
• "For decades, when sanitary sewer pipes cracked or experienced other damage, the only option was an expensive excavation, removal and replacement of the damaged pipe, typically requiring street repavement afterwards. In the mid-1950s a unit was invented where two units at each end with a special cement mixture in between was pulled from one manhole cover to the next, coating the pipe with the cement under high pressure which then dried at a fast rate, sealing all cracks and breaks in the pipe."
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage_collection_and_disposal
• "Separate sanitary sewer systems are designed to transport sewage alone. In communities served by separate sanitary sewers, another pipe system is constructed to convey stormwater runoff directly to surface waters. Most municipal sewer systems constructed today are separate sewer systems."
• The most important thing: "During the early 19th century, the River Thames was effectively an open sewer, leading to frequent outbreaks of cholera epidemics. Proposals to modernise the sewerage system had been made during 1856, but were neglected due to lack of funds. However, after the Great Stink of 1858, Parliament realised the urgency of the problem and resolved to create a modern sewerage system. The civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette, constructed a modern sewerage system for London in the mid-19th century. Joseph Bazalgette, a civil engineer and Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works, was given responsibility for the work. He designed an extensive underground sewerage system that diverted waste to the Thames Estuary, downstream of the main centre of population. Six main interceptor sewers, totalling almost 100 miles (160 km) in length, were constructed, some incorporating stretches of London's 'lost' rivers. Three of these sewers were north of the river, the southernmost, low-level one being incorporated in the Thames Embankment. The Embankment also allowed new roads, new public gardens, and the Circle Line of the London Underground. The intercepting sewers, constructed between 1859 and 1865, were fed by 450 miles (720 km) of main sewers that, in turn, conveyed the contents of some 13,000 miles (21,000 km) of smaller local sewers. Construction of the interceptor system required 318 million bricks, 2.7 million cubic metres of excavated earth and 670,000 cubic metres of concrete. Gravity allowed the sewage to flow eastwards, but in places such as Chelsea, Deptford and Abbey Mills, pumping stations were built to raise the water and provide sufficient flow. Sewers north of the Thames feed into the Northern Outfall Sewer, which fed into a major treatment works at Beckton. South of the river, the Southern Outfall Sewer extended to a similar facility at Crossness. With only minor modifications, Bazalgette's engineering achievement remains the basis for sewerage design up into the present day."
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bazalgette
• "Bazalgette's foresight may be seen in the diameter of the sewers. When planning the network he took the densest population, gave every person the most generous allowance of sewage production and came up with a diameter of pipe needed. He then said 'Well, we're only going to do this once and there's always the unforeseen' and doubled the diameter to be used. His foresight allowed for the unforeseen increase in population density with the introduction of the tower block; with the original, smaller pipe diameter the sewer would have overflowed in the 1960s, rather than coping until the present day as it has."
• https://www.waternz.org.nz/Folder?Action=View%20File&Folder_id=135&File=c_meadowcroft_et_al.pdf: Nice paper on evaluation of waste water systems - which is very close to the area this post is interested in.
• http://web.mit.edu/watsan/Docs/Student%20Theses/Brazil/Choi2003.pdf: provides an interesting design of waste water system - though from an academic view.
• Black water contains water from toilets while grey water excludes water from toilets. Keywords: Cesspit, Chamber Pot
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage_treatment
• "For most cities, the sewer system will also carry a proportion of industrial effluent to the sewage treatment plant which has usually received pretreatment at the factories themselves to reduce the pollutant load. If the sewer system is a combined sewer then it will also carry urban runoff (stormwater) to the sewage treatment plant."
• "Sewerage systems capable of handling storm water are known as combined sewer systems. This design was common when urban sewerage systems were first developed, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Combined sewers require much larger and more expensive treatment facilities than sanitary sewers. Heavy volumes of storm runoff may overwhelm the sewage treatment system, causing a spill or overflow. Sanitary sewers are typically much smaller than combined sewers, and they are not designed to transport stormwater...Communities that have urbanized in the mid-20th century or later generally have built separate systems for sewage (sanitary sewers) and stormwater, because precipitation causes widely varying flows, reducing sewage treatment plant efficiency...As rainfall travels over roofs and the ground, it may pick up various contaminants including soil particles and other sediment, heavy metals, organic compounds, animal waste, and oil and grease. Some jurisdictions require stormwater to receive some level of treatment before being discharged directly into waterways."

Flush toilet:

• http://visual.ly/how-toilet-flushing-works
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flush_toilet
• Sewage Backup - read the section "Diagnose the cause of the sewage backup": http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Backup_Response.php
• Sewage Backup - http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Drain_Clog_Diagnosis.php
• http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Field_Clogging_Diagnosis.php
• http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_System_Dye_Test_Procedure.php
• http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Drain_Clog_Diagnosis.php: "Check several building plumbing fixtures: Refining the above procedure, if the main building drain is clogged, or if the on-site waste disposal system is blocked, fixtures on upper floors in a building may appear to drain normally, while fixtures on lower floors or at the lowest level in the building may not drain at all, or may even overflow back into the building when upper floor fixtures are operated."
• http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Backup_Response.php

Additional reading:

• http://www2.epa.gov/septichttp://nepis.epa.gov/Adobe/PDF/P1003ZQY.pdf
• http://nepis.epa.gov/Adobe/PDF/P1003ZQY.pdf
• https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-wb-dwehs-osw-mcssd_241120_7.pdf
• https://www.horizons.govt.nz/assets/horizons/Images/one_plan/On-Site%20Wastewater%20Design%20Manual_April%2007.pdf
• http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/plansstrategies/unitaryplan/Documents/Material%20incorporated%20by%20reference/upmirbcounciltp58onsitewastewatersystemsdesignmanagementmanual.pdf
• http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2015/11/chennai-weather.html
• http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2tm0Ro/:tfFTNd$C:GFUS-65j/www.boredpanda.com/floating-rubbish-bin-ocean-cleaning-seabin-andrew-turton-pete-ceglinski-australia

Lights Flicker And Inverter Makes Clicking Noise

What could be the reason?

• http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/44789/how-can-i-fix-flickering-and-continuous-clicking-with-a-ups-on-an-inverter-suppl

• www.tomshardware.com/forum/55733-7-turn-beeping-noise
• http://benignblog.com/2013/01/solutions-for-ups-problems.html

Additional reading:

• Taking care of A/C: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/air-conditioner-blunders-avoid-summer/ (AC)

Signs That You Are Smarter Than Average

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Vl9VL/:fq4D-P4x:DZI8uO7I/www.businessinsider.com/traits-of-smart-people-2015-11

53 Unputdownable Books

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2iZU4B/:1s0aN@ouS:DZI8uO7I/www.buzzfeed.com/lincolnthompson/53-books-you-wont-be-able-to-put-down

Being Muslim

Being Indian: https://www.facebook.com/sofiya.rangwala/posts/10205032906648541?fref=nf

Being Woman: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153274683422712&set=a.10150525893262712.380849.557522711&type=3&fref=nf

CIAL

Cochin International Airport Limited is the first airport in the world to rely 100% on solar energy: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin_International_Airport#Management

http://cial.aero/Pressroom/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=360

The airport is in PPP mode and is headed by IAS officer VJ Kurien.

Men Will Fix

A friend sent me this long time back. 

Sofia Vergara Ties The Knot

Sofia Vergara: BTSA

Richest Person In Each State In The USA

http://www3.forbes.com/investing/the-richest-person-in-every-state/17/

"Jonathan Nelson has made a fortune buying and selling media and telecom properties without hardly anyone noticing."

Surprising the use of "without hardly anyone noticing". 

Evaluating A Company's Performance

https://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/h2_storyview.asp?str=29418

Negative visualization may be useful: https://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/h2_storyview.asp?str=29419

How To Evaluate A Job Offer

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2015/11/23/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer-2/

TOP CSR Spenders

Corporate Social Responsibility: http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/corporate-social-responsibility-spending-of-nifty-top-50-companies-ril-ongc-tcs/169348/

Sit Ups - Benefits

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Do-sit-ups-really-reduce-belly-Find-out/articleshow/46012297.cms

Photography

http://ilovehatephoto.com/2014/08/22/how-to-shoot-like-terry-richardson-part-3-the-results/

Internet Usage And Reliance Jio's 4G Rollout

http://rtn.asia/n-m/15690/reliance-jio-to-launch-4g-in-jan-march-airtel-vodafone-idea-may-offer-discounts-fitch

Plagiarism In Business Schools And East Asia

http://fortune.com/2015/11/19/business-school-plagiarism/: A quote:

"Those who plagiarize admissions essays tend to be international applicants from East Asia, where educational norms surrounding cheating differ from those in the United States."

Buying Property Through Banks' E-Auction

http://www.livemint.com/Money/pnWcKvXFnZEuyRdnO4p1mK/Canara-Bank-goes-the-eauction-way.html

BankAuctions.in  and Foreclosureindia.com
Missing stuff:

• Search for properties does not have a sort order. 
• Search shows properties whose auction dates are in the past. There is no provision to filter them out nor sort by date
• Searches involving a combination of two or more filters usually gives wrong results.
• There is no export option for search results.
• For auctioned properties there is no winning bid price.

Check these sites - seem much better:

• https://www.bankeauctions.com/ (the column headings can be clicked to sort), 
• https://www.auctiontiger.net/EPROC/, 
• http://www.arcil.co.in/auction/auctions_details.php?id=81 
• http://sbigroupauctions.magicbricks.com/mangalore.html

Some additional sites:
State bank assets: http://tenders.gov.in/department.asp?id=1577

Relevant Articles:

1. http://www.nitinbhatia.in/real-estate/bank-auction-process/
2. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-02/news/36703857_1_reserve-price-
3. online-auctions-property
4. http://foreclosureindia.com/articles/procedure-of-sale-of-property-through-auction-4.html
5. https://www.commonfloor.com/guide/how-to-buy-property-through-bank-auctions-23776.html
6. https://bankauctions.in/faq/
7. https://bankauctions.in/advanced-search/?meta_listing_id=&meta_institution=0&meta_city=0&wpas_id=my-home-page-form&wpas_submit=1#results
8. https://eauction.npasource.com/ (see also http://npasource.com/investorservice.aspx)
9. http://www.legallyindia.com/forum/legal-issues-talk-and-help/need-advice-on-buying-bank-auctioned-properties: Sunny Sharma's reply
10. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/real-estate/realty-trends/buying-house-in-a-bank-auction-take-care-of-additional-costs/articleshow/19526203.cms: Reserve price = Outstanding debt of original buyer
11. https://foreclosureindia.com/blog/category/updates/: Procedure
12. http://m.firstpost.com/business/economy/how-to-prevent-a-nightmare-with-bank-auctioned-homes-512326.html: Issues with auctions

An example:

• https://bankauctions.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/CORP-Jiji-Thomson-Ranni.jpg
• https://bankauctions.in/listing-details/land-at-kollamula-village-ranni-taluk-pathanamthitta-district/

How to use: Go to bankauctions.in and click "Search upcoming auctions". Choose from and to dates, leave city blank..

1 hectare = 10000 sqm = 100 are..

1 are= 100 sq m = 1000sq ft

Questions to be answered:

1. How does one see a live auction without participating?

2. Usually what is the final amount as a % of reserve price. Marginally above is my guess meaning there is very little competitive bidding.

4. Can all payments be made online? I guess yes.

5. Is the title clear? The site says "its as is where is" and also that banks have verified title. Why cant the seller (bank) ensure EC or title is pakka at the time of auction? There may be issues of non payment of bills or society dues or a tenant who may not be willing to leave. 

6, What is the difference between foreclosure and bankauction sites?

7. Why doesn't the filter work correctly in foreclosure site? Matter of fact doesn't seem to work correctly in most of the related sites.

Answered questions:

3. If I lose the bid, when will the amount be credited bank to me? Yes as per para "Refund Details" in https://bankauctions.in/beginners-guide/

War In Balochistan

http://www.ozy.com/acumen/balochistan-the-bloodiest-war-youve-never-heard-of/63187?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=APAC2

Marry Him

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153370017603860&id=787318859&set=a.495588413859.277845.787318859&refid=7&_ft_=qid.6217594898507698994%3Amf_story_key.-2852926388568060402&__tn__=E

Life 100 Years Later

Extremely cute: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2xfMTc/:1f8M$gcFS:DYL-W99B/twistedsifter.com/2015/11/artists-from-1900-depict-the-year-2000

Meat And Cancer

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/26/health/meat-cancer-who-report.html?WT.mc_id=2015-NOVEMBER-FB-INYT-MC1-AUD_DEV-1101-1130&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=IntlAudDev&_r=0

Rudyard Kipling's Train Journey

Narrow gauge train journey by narrow gauge from Nagpur to Jabalpur: http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/last-ride-through-kiplings-india-on-the-satpura-narrow-gauge-line/article7872851.ece

Nainpur Jn to Nagpur narrow gauge train: http://indiarailinfo.com/train/nainpur-chhindwara-nagpur-ng-fast-passenger-58840-nir-to-ngpb/3146/3737/10558

Return journey: 58839 leaves Nagpur at 12:45PM and arrives Nainpur next morning at 02:20. 58840 leaves Nainpur at 2:30 AM and arrives Nagpur at 15:30.

Additional reading:

http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2014/04/going-on-trip-tips.html

Intelligent Criminals In India

http://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/7-of-the-most-intelligent-crimes-ever-committed-by-indians-246808.html

Ritu And Dina And Indira - Marwah And Jinnah And Gandhi

All 6 six letter surnames. I suspected the writer of this article was an F (not T as in MBTI) when I came across this: "Dina was two years old when Indira was born in November 1917. "  (Dina was born in 1919).

Wanderers And DRD4 Genes

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7RxhyU/:SMgnPzV3:OFi07jaC/news.bitofnews.com/the-wanderlust-gene-why-some-people-are-born-to-travel-all-over-the-world

Another trait that is determined by genes.

Learn To Tilt Your Head And Improve Your Emotional Quotient

http://hellogiggles.com/dogs-tilt-heads/

Sarcasm Indicates Higher Creativity

Wowowow:http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/680OUq/:1eUutqU@S:OFi07jaC/hellogiggles.com/sarcastic-people-good-for-you. INTJ's (as in MBTI) are usually supposed to be sarcastic. 

What about NF's? They usually are intelligent and not sarcastic. How does the finding above apply for NF's?

Additional reading:

• http://www.idiva.com/news-relationships/10-things-that-are-way-too-real-if-you-are-nice-but-also-sarcastic-af/17031514
• http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2015/03/intj.html

Languages Spoken Across The World

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/AkfnKZ/:1edgzhFGh:OFi07jaC/www.iflscience.com/environment/worlds-most-spoken-languages-and-where-they-are-spoken

Just Right - Goldilocks Principle

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-educationplus/take-the-cue-from-goldilocks/article7858972.ece

Some Interesting Trains In India

Kolkata Amritsar 12357 Superfast Express: http://indiantrainblog.blogspot.in/2013/05/my-first-experience-with-duronto-train.html

Interesting articles in this site: https://gcirc.wordpress.com/. For example: read this and https://www.flickr.com/photos/ks_bluechip/sets/72157626215189768/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/ks_bluechip/sets/72157626215329600/

Additional reading: 
http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2014/04/going-on-trip-tips.html

Chennai Weather

December 1st, 2015 Flooding:

1st Dec: http://www.ndtv.com/chennai-news/major-road-caves-in-as-rain-batters-chennai-schools-remain-shut-1249627 Crater on road near Madhya Kailash

Tale of Paris and Chennai: 2 Disasters and the responses from people: http://www.scoopwhoop.com/news/facebook-post-criticises-response-to-chennai-floods/


Chennai before floods and after: http://www.thestatesman.com/photos/1211-30-chennai-before-and-after-floods.html

Was it a wrong call? : http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-floods-a-wrong-call-that-sank-the-city/article7967371.ece

A cousin sent me this nice video of a bridge getting flooded.

What went wrong: 

• http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chennai-paid-the-price-for-loss-of-wetlands-and-open-spaces-study/article7974733.ece, 
• http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-floods-what-happened-chembarambakkam-negligence-or-nature%E2%80%99s-fury-36675, 
• http://thewire.in/2015/12/09/how-official-negligence-turned-a-natural-crisis-into-a-human-made-catastrophe-16938/, 
• http://www.vikatan.com/news/english/56173-where-is-the-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-jayalalitha.art

Insurance claim norms (arising out of the flood): http://www.livemint.com/Money/GSl2lRV08cAW8DQOMcwwtK/Insurance-firms-relax-flood-claim-norms.html

City sank: http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/chennai-receives-heaviest-rainfall-in-a-decade-city-plunged-in-despair/2/

Adyar river flooding: 
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Flood-Alert-Along-the-Banks-of-Adyar-River/2015/11/17/article3131383.ece
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-shudders-as-floodgates-of-Chembarambakkam-open/articleshow/49810543.cms

More news about Nov 2015 flooding (Ola cabs operates boats):

• http://deccanchronicle.com/151117/nation-current-affairs/article/chennai-floods-neighbours-help-pregnant-woman-reach-hospital
• http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/highest-rainfall-in-10-years-washes-away-chennais-expensive-drainage-desilting-projects/
• This Nov (2015) likely to be rainiest November in the history of Chennai.
• It became the wettest November in history: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rain-returns-to-break-100-yr-record-wreaks-havoc-in-Chennai/articleshow/49989900.cms

• Chennai 2015 November: One of the wettest fortnights in recent history in Chennai. 500+ mm in 2 weeks from 1st till 15th Nov. Photos here. 
• Video of tree thudding on a car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWBf5QfM5OM&feature=youtu.be

• Monsoon rain photos in Chennai - from local newspapers

A cousin sent me this photo:

http://www.livemint.com/rf/Image-621x414/LiveMint/Period1/2015/11/30/Photos/tnrains-kXpE--621x414@LiveMint.jpg

Chennai gets 1400 mm average rainfall for the whole year: about 100 mm in the first 5 months of the year, 400mm from Jun to Sep and 900mm from Oct to Dec. 1:4:9.

1. Chennai Monsoon Statistics: http://www.chennai.climatemps.com/precipitation.php
2. http://www.chennai.climatemps.com/
3. http://www.vagaries.in/p/rohit-aroskars-page.html
4. http://www.kea.metsite.com/: streaming weather data showing temperature, pressure, rainfall, wind etc. for Chennai. An issue I find in the site is this: "Rain rate: 16.0 mm/hr      Hourly: 26.2 mm": from the site. What is this data supposed to mean? I suppose hourly refers to rainfall in last 1 hour while rain rate is the differential current d(rain)/d(time).
5. http://59.99.240.81:8085/liveweather/index.php

A friend sent me this (it's in Tamil) which provides an astrological explanation of events.

Additional reading:

• Rainwater harvesting calculations: http://chennaimetrowater.gov.in/departments/rwh/whatwhy.htm
• Municipal Sewage: http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2015/12/municipal-waste-transport-and-utility.html

First Class Flying Has Been Going Downhill

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-06/first-class-flying-s-been-going-downhill-for-75-years

Keeping Your Shirt Off - Girls Vs Boys

http://observer.com/2014/06/battle-of-the-sexes-tumblr-teens-mystified-by-boys-and-girls-shirt-removal/

5 Keys To Business Success

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-04/buddhist-billionaire-kazuo-inamori-s-tips-for-business-success

Yes Prime Minister Modi

After Bihar defeat: http://www.financialexpress.com/article/blogs/bull-run-on-stock-markets-to-continue-if-and-only-if-lessons-from-bihar-elections-are-learnt/163312/ 

I hope the PM focuses on law and order and justice fast, reduce the number of pending cases in courts, ensure safety of people instead of focusing on stuff like Ghar wapsi. Otherwise he might as well grow a beard and and become a religious head.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/moodys-analytics-stands-by-its-report-says-report-part-of-economic-outlook-series/161642/

Additional reading:

1. http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2015/05/dress-code-is-important.html (Gender related)
2. http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2015/10/vodafone-wins-income-tax-case.html (Tax related)
3. http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2014/06/one-side-of-modi.html (An Ordinary man)
4. http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2014/12/modi-as-he-is-seen-from-pakistan.html (As he is seen in Pakistan)

Installing Wifi

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/slideshow/setting-up-home-wi-fi-7-things-to-remember/itslideshow/49645077.cms

Photographs Of USA From Depression - Yale

photogrammar.yale.edu/map/

What ISIS Really Wants

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/: Quotes (without permission):

"Being a Shiite, as most Iraqi Arabs are, meets the standard as well, because the Islamic State regards Shiism as innovation, and to innovate on the Koran is to deny its initial perfection. (The Islamic State claims that common Shiite practices, such as worship at the graves of imams and public self-flagellation, have no basis in the Koran or in the example of the Prophet.) That means roughly 200 million Shia are marked for death. So too are the heads of state of every Muslim country, who have elevated man-made law above Sharia by running for office or enforcing laws not made by God."

 "According to Haykel, the ranks of the Islamic State are deeply infused with religious vigor. Koranic quotations are ubiquitous. “Even the foot soldiers spout this stuff constantly,” Haykel said. “They mug for their cameras and repeat their basic doctrines in formulaic fashion, and they do it all the time.” He regards the claim -that the Islamic State has distorted the texts of Islam - as preposterous, sustainable only through willful ignorance. “People want to absolve Islam,” he said. “It’s this ‘Islam is a religion of peace’ mantra. As if there is such a thing as ‘Islam’! It’s what Muslims do, and how they interpret their texts.” Those texts are shared by all Sunni Muslims, not just the Islamic State. “And these guys have just as much legitimacy as anyone else.”" [Bold mine] The part in bold is exactly what I believe. What Islam says or what the Prophet said is academic. How people follow it is what is relevant.

"In Haykel’s estimation, the fighters of the Islamic State are authentic throwbacks to early Islam and are faithfully reproducing its norms of war. This behavior includes a number of practices that modern Muslims tend to prefer not to acknowledge as integral to their sacred texts. “Slavery, crucifixion, and beheadings are not something that freakish [jihadists] are cherry-picking from the medieval tradition,” Haykel said. Islamic State fighters “are smack in the middle of the medieval tradition and are bringing it wholesale into the present day.”"

"The Koran specifies crucifixion as one of the only punishments permitted for enemies of Islam. The tax on Christians finds clear endorsement in the Surah Al-Tawba, the Koran’s ninth chapter, which instructs Muslims to fight Christians and Jews “until they pay the jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” The Prophet, whom all Muslims consider exemplary, imposed these rules and owned slaves. " - Now I do not know how much of the quotes are a true reflection of fact. In Islam hardly anything can be considered an irrefutable fact because of the existence of multiple interpretations. While most religions have this issue, Islam probably suffers from having the least interest in accuracy.

"It’s hard to overstate how hamstrung the Islamic State will be by its radicalism. The modern international system, born of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, relies on each state’s willingness to recognize borders, however grudgingly. For the Islamic State, that recognition is ideological suicide. Other Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, have succumbed to the blandishments of democracy and the potential for an invitation to the community of nations, complete with a UN seat. Negotiation and accommodation have worked, at times, for the Taliban as well. (Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan exchanged ambassadors with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, an act that invalidated the Taliban’s authority in the Islamic State’s eyes.) To the Islamic State these are not options, but acts of apostasy." - It is strange, almost narcissistic how Islam thinks - that anyone (any country / any religion) other than me cannot exist, or if they do, they will only exist as slaves. "I do not recognize any country's borders or any other religions" or going back to the womb (to the 7th century AD) - is very interesting. I wonder what will happen if the world is fully Islamized.. Civilization would perhaps go back a thousand years. And for what purpose? What will ISIS achieve by this? Just to live in a glorious Islamized world?

Invisible Man Messing With Woman

https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1441382_175668255970315_2059364290_n.jpg?oh=ec2a7f4b103320898974f3c46bc9f7b4&oe=56BA46EA

ATAS (VIKALP) In Indian Railways

http://www.newsx.com/national/12713-indian-railways-to-launch-vikalp: Isn't this nice?

Further details:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=128769
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Wait-list-rail-travellers-to-get-Vikalp/articleshow/49398897.cms

Sunheri Yaadein - Days Of Vividh Bharti - Ek Haajaar Teen Sho Theyish Kilohaartz

https://sunheriyaadein.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/vividh-bharati-an-indispensable-part-of-my-life/ - this post reminds of me of my own days with a transistor. "Man Chahe Geet" "Bala Ke Phool", Vishesh Jaimala on Saturdays.

Again the 55 duo seem very much like me (for their interest in songs from the 1950s and 60s). And in their site I read that Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye has a Bengali sibling ("Amay Proshno Kore") sung by Hemant Kumar (Youtube links often gets deleted).

Cloud Seeding And Making It Rain In India

http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-cloud-seeding-india/

Good Ebook Deals

https://www.bookbub.com/ebook-deals/recommended?page=3

Roe Vs Wade On Abortion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade and http://www.lawnix.com/cases/roe-wade.html


Sex Advice For Teens: http://time.com/4055845/ann-landers-sex-advice-teens/

Additional reading:

• Foetal Viability: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_viability
• Yongest Cowgirl: http://time.com/4015064/youngest-cowgirl-photos/

Scatterbrained People Are Geniuses

Nice article: 
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1DJ1Gz/:u8vN1igh:HZMMai0F/www.yourtango.com/2015282062/scatterbrained-people-are-basically-geniuses

Here is another very interesting article on the same subject. Matter of fact I would recommend reading this instead of or before the one above.

Additional reading:

• http://calmisc.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-causes-enhances-creativity.html

Microsoft Excel Performance And Memory Usage

http://www.plumsolutions.com.au/articles/improving-excel-memory-and-file-performance

http://www.plumsolutions.com.au/articles/excel-model-file-size-getting-out-hand

Additional reading:
http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2015/02/excel-analyzing-filtered-set-of-data_14.html

Relationship Addicts

http://talkitover.in/love/love-addiction-signs-to-look-out-for/

Initiative Is To Success

Is what a lighted match is to a candle....

What A Recruiter Sees In Your Resume in One Minute

http://qz.com/525496/done-what-a-recruiter-sees-on-your-resume-at-first-glance/: Nice one

Challenging Borders

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34600661

Driving on Left And Wight Sides Of The Road

Map showing countries: http://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/list-of-left-driving-countries/

Benefits Of Stress And Forgiving

Articles on:

• Benefits Of Stress 
• 8 Keys to forgiving
• "There are many forms of emotional pain; but the common forms are anxiety, depression, unhealthy anger, lack of trust, self-loathing or low self-esteem, an overall negative worldview, and a lack of confidence in one’s ability to change. All of these harms can be addressed by forgiveness; so it’s important to identify the kind of pain you are suffering from and to acknowledge it. The more hurt you have incurred, the more important it is to forgive, at least for the purpose of experiencing emotional healing."

Binoculars

• http://www.just-binoculars.com/binocular-buying-guide/

A Mother's Response to "We Look Forward To The Next Big Event"

https://www.facebook.com/singam.90/posts/10153660875348770 - very nice.

Difference Between Torah And Talmud

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/religion-miscellaneous/difference-between-talmud-and-torah/

Durga Puja Bhog

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Doctor-in-the-House/durga-puja-bhog-a-feast-with-a-fast/

Good Cutlet And Kulfi

https://humayunn.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/deolalidevlali-maharashtra-india/ - About Devlali.

For Vada Pav: Try Ichchamani.

Additional reading:

1. http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2010/11/vada-pav-in-madras.html
2. http://Calmisc.blogspot.com/2015/10/interesting-eating-places-in-chennai.html
3. http://vbala99.blogspot.com/2015/11/tirth-yatra-by-train.html

Oh Oh PWC, And Other Big Auditing Firms - Please No

http://fortune.com/2015/10/19/auditors-financial-reports/

Additional reading:
Headhunter warning signs: http://fortune.com/2015/10/20/headhunters-warning-signs/

Worst Airports Of 2015

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/19/aviation/worlds-worst-airports-2015/index.html: How come no Indian airport made it to this list?

Seems like Chennai airport did make it to the Asian worst list: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/t35KanR2DlU3R48sejrsdK/Chennai-among-Asias-worst-airports.html

Additional reading:
A scenic road trip: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/19/travel/florida-keys-overseas-highway/index.html?iref=obnetwork