9 March 2014

Few interesting facts about DST – but don’t tell my mom!!

I did not explain all these to my mom today – she would be further confused…
  1. DST is less than 100 years old. (98 in Central Europe and 96 in US)
  2. DST was first proposed by a guy in New Zealand who wanted more daylight to follow his profession – studying insects!!
  3. DST was subsequently proposed by another guy in UK who was frustrated with his back nine game in golf with less sunlight.
  4. Most of the countries scrapped DST after first world war (except a couple in Europe and Canada)
  5. Many adopted them back during second world war and the oil crisis of 70s. US standardized on it only in 1966.
  6. Many have scrapped it ever since!
  7. More inhabited land is covered in this world by countries who have scrapped DST than by those who currently observe it or those who never observed it.
  8. And this is going to completely flummox my mom – in spite of all her confusion, the fact is when she was born, India had Daylight savings. (during second world war when India was under the British). Subsequently it was scrapped. I bet this is a surprise for most of Indian friends too!
Category: Puzzles | 3 Comments on Few interesting facts about DST – but don’t tell my mom!!
9 March 2014

Daylight Savings and my Mom

We had just finished the Sunday morning group run. I had a twenty minute drive home. Decided to make my daily call to mom from the car. So far so good. But, at a moment of indiscretion, I let her know about the clocks being reset today in US due to Daylight Savings. And then for the next ten minutes, I had to try my best explaining day light savings to somebody who has never been exposed to day light savings. She had quite a few questions and you could see that she was getting really confused with the whole concept. I think the core question she was trying to get past was “Why bother? It is not saving you any time”.

Finally, I tried explaining the practical ramifications. For example, when we ran today, it was much darker than last Sunday since today’s 8 am was last Sunday’s 7am. For a few moments she was very quiet. I figured she was now getting the hang of it. And I was sure the next thing she was going to ask would be a worried question like – “So, you did not sleep well last night?” or “Did you ever miss a flight due to this?”.

Instead, her question was “Khaabi ki ghori dhorey?” (“Are you going to have your lunch by the clock time”?). Only my Mom!! Only she can cut thru all the confusion of this stupid thing that sounds like you will save some time when you don’t and get to the central essence of her entire existence – “When will my son get to eat”?

I was so taken aback that I myself took a few seconds to process it. And then desperately trying to muffle my laughter, I offered “Keno? Khidey pele kheye nebo”. (“Why? I will eat when I feel hungry”). Even she admitted, after a few seconds of due consideration that given all the complications of daylight savings her son has to suffer thru, his logic was as sound as it will ever get!!

Heaven help all Indian moms if and when India ever switches to day light savings!!!

Category: Family in India, Humor | 6 Comments on Daylight Savings and my Mom
9 March 2014

Chalupa Run

The herd thinned out a little due to the Daylight Savings (everybody slept an hour less). We were excited to have two first timers there – Nachiketa and his younger daughter Remi!!

Like last week, tried keeping up with Pooja for the first mile. Initially she ran at 7:30 min/mile pace. And then for the last quarter mile she decided that we should sprint – we peaked at 6:15 min/mile!!! I raced to win and then when I realized that I won’t, I raced to make her break the record 😉

After that was a leisurely couple of miles more!!!

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7 March 2014

Cool Puzzle

This puzzle does not require math skills but some imagination and visual skills. Assuming you have not seen this problem before, that is. One of the visual skills required is getting past my terrible drawing abilities 🙂
So, there is a painting with a string attached on the top two ends as shown in the picture. And there are two nails on the wall horizontally separated. (the separation distance does not matter).
Can you hang the painting with the string in a way that if any one of the nails come off, the painting will fall down to the ground?
Of course, the painting needs to actually hang from the nails using the string.

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6 March 2014

Nikispeak again!!

So, there is a Miley Cyrus show coming up. And I asked my usual question to the girls (by SMS) if they wanted to go. (I never go but many times they show up for all these concerts). I was anyways wary of exposing any of the girls (including Sharmila 😉 ) to “twerking” (I think that is the word, right?). So I asked the question in a negative way.

Again, Niki’s response was hilarious. I so wish this firecracker would remain 10 years old for ever!!!!

Here, see her response for yourself…

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Category: Humor, My Family | LEAVE A COMMENT
6 March 2014

Nikispeak

After two very tiring days in Dallas and then rushing back for a customer dinner yesterday, I was dog tired and late to bed last night. Decided to change up my routine this morning – slept in till 6 am and then had a leisurely coffee at home instead of going for a run and all that. And since I had missed Nikita’s birthday day before (I was on the road), offered to accompany her to school today.

While driving there, I opened with an ice breaker – “Can you think of some
English words that have three consecutive vowels?”. She gave me one long look, answered “Aaaaaaah”and “Wheeeeee” and then closed her eyes!!!! But not before reminding me “No more academic questions before school hours”!!!

Needless to say, the rest of the trip was very quiet and decidedly vowel-less!!!!

Category: Humor, My Family | 6 Comments on Nikispeak