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Thats all for now.

The day started when mom woke me up at 4 ‘O’ clock. I had to be ready by 5 so that I can go to Kadampuzha temple with my cousine. I prepared tea and had break fast with beaten rice (Avil) and banana chips. But there was a misunderstanding as I didn’t turn up the day before and he thought I was not going with him ! So he didn’t stop for me and it was disappointing to wake up at 4′O clock during vacation and for nothing Anyway I had ‘Lord of the rings’ to read again at an unexpected time. (I always read books at these irregular hours like once I ventured to read Harry Poter 5 during my sessional exams during 5th semester, a night-out to read ‘Five point someone- what not to do in IITs’, ‘Dance Dance’ (Complete novel – highly recommended ! but you may find something not fiting into the scheme — because it is a sequel) of Haruki Murakami when everyone in the campus was deep in RS agarwal and Sakunthala Devi for campus placement preparations, ‘Sea Leopard’ during s8 exams and ‘Da Vinci code’ within a week before the s8 exams, to point out some )

From Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami

«Tell me, Kiki, are you dead?» I ask.

She spins around in the light to face me.

«Gotanda thinks he killed me,» says Kiki.

«Yes, he does. Or he did.»

Anyway it was great time for reading. Now I got hooked to the novel (though I started it two-three days back I didn’t feel the thrill as the pace of the novel is very slow and you take time to get to know the plot and characters and it is also a sequel to ‘The Hobbit’).

By 7.30 I left for Sabeel’s home after extended breakfast with Upma – or Salt Mango tree as one of the Mohanlal‘s teacher characters translates it and ‘Onion Rice’. He was not yet up and when I woke him up he was astonished to see me that early. I am famous (notorious ?) for my early morining sleeps (extended sleeps). I explained to him my situation and watched TV till he was ready for yet another adventure.

World Environment day

As it was the world environment day there was a live (over phone) discussion on Kiran TV ( a malayalam channel from Sun Network) about the environment. One participant from Mumbai urged the government to make sure the pollution control measures are taken before granting permission when starting industries. She pointed out that there are strict rules in Mumbai for getting license for new ventures. Another participant was talking about the sound pollution from bike horns and need for strict law and fine should be increased to prevent violation of such laws.

Another day of GNU/Linux Hacks

At about 9 we left for Rauf’s home for another day of GNU/Linux hacks. We booted into the GNU/Linux box and examined the xorg.conf file and found out what the problem was — virtual resolution. We commented out the virtual resolution stuff and the desktop looked even nicer. Then we moved to the text console ( CTRL+ALT+F2 ) and tried different commands. Sabeel had gone through the book and had an idea of the commands. We tried in detail how to add new users first. Since Suse does not come with adduser command which is an easier edition of the useradd command which is available with most of the Linux-based GNU distros. We tried adding users with different uids and many other options like home dirctory and default shell. Then I showed them /etc/passwd file and how to use finger. The I told them about the .plan file that contains more info about a user and which will be used by finger. [We changed the contents of /etc/default/useradd that contained the default values for useradd - we made zsh as the default shell instead of bash ]. We moved on with ls,pwd,cat,more etc and pipes and input/output redirection.

Recovering Windows

Then we had to recover windows for him. We tried to boot it by adding it to grub menu but without success. We tried to see if editing C:\boot.ini file will get the thing working. boot.ini is the configuration file for Windows’ default boot loader. We had no other option left but to re-install the windows OS. We tried to rescue it but the dir command gave error for C and D drives which were affected by Partition Magic, but E and F was healthy. So went on with installation. When we tried to format D it showed us C as FAT32 which was unknown(to windows installer) till then when we formated D!! (later we knew that it formated C not D to show it as FAT32) It made a mess with the partiotions (It is not at all staright forward). Its userfriendliness was even made clearer when we splitted a 10 GB partition (D) which previously had XP and formated K drive, it went on with installing it on K (we wanted it on D). Anyway it got installed in K with two free partitions C and D. The default boot loader (NTLDR) over wrote grub and we inserted Suse 9.3 CD 1 to recover Suse by installing Grub.

Update: Now I know how to install grub in Windows and add it to c:\boot.ini (I found out it when I was struggling with GNU slash Hurd installation).

We expected an easier way to install grub like in mandrake (with just an enter) but got a root rescue shell (Now I think Mandrake – now Mandriva is recommended for newbies).
So we entered grub shell and setup the suse images and installed it in MBR. Now Rauf’s system happily dual boots betweenMicrosoft Windows XP and Suse GNU slash Linux – once we thought impossible – we did it !!

Then we rebooted to Suseand took a copy of Slackware for Sabeel using k3b (The CD burner software for KDE which we use extensively in NITC Main CC). Now we had to leave as Sabeel had to leave for Trivandrum for s7 registration.

Notes: The problem was with the partitions (Windows XP made it a mess so that even Partition Magic and GNU Parted failed to resize a partition).

This is continuation of where we left in our last adventure at Rauf’s computer. Sabeel came home after his theory papers (s6) and we met on 3rd evening. We talked for a long time and then we talked about GNU/linux system, from kernel to shell to X windows. We discussed about modules [of linux kernel] too.

Modules are pluggable parts of the kernel that can be used as and when we need it. For example glx is a module for the Open GL 3D graphics libraries [typically used for 3D games] that will be plugged into the kernel only when the X server [the graphics system in Unix-like systems] starts. [in /etc/X11/xorg.conf or /etc/X11/XFree86config file you can see all the modules that will be loaded when the X server starts in the Modules sub-section]. insmod is a command used to insert a module into the kernel and lsmod lists all the modules that are currently loaded into the kernel. A module usually have a .ko [for kernel object -- from Object Oriented Methodology everything is viewed as an object only, in the same manner.so extention stands for shared object].

We discussed how nvidia driver is installed for supporting hardware acceleraton for Nvidia based graphics cards. The installation program[can be downloaded from nvidia website and the same program installs the driver for all the models of your card] checks the kernel version and if the pre-compiled modules are available it will be copied and the configuration files updated. If the precompiled kernel modules are not available it offers to download from the net and if we don’t have a net connection [The case which I had to opt for all the installation cases for many a nvdia based mother boards] it will compile the kernel module and you need to install kernel source and kernel headders for it. (NVIDIA no longer offers rpms but executable binary files so that a single program can be used across all the different flavours of the gnu/linux that uses different packaging systems like deb, [debian based systems] rpm [Redhat, Suse, mandrake and others], tgz [Slackware], ebuild[gentoo] etc ). I explained to him kernel as part of the system that manage the system resources such as memory processor and other hardware. Then shell as an interface between kernel and us. then we moved on to /etc/passwd which contains the information of all users in the system [For local authentication. The GNU/linux also support many other authentication types like NIS [Network Information Services from Sun Microsystems], LDAP and even winbind (yeah, you guessed correct it is the authentication method for Windows networks!) – you can authenticate users who got a windows NT account into your gnu/linux system with the same user id – password !! Samba guys Rocks!!!]

He had a copy of ‘The complete idiot’s linux’ book and we went through it. We decided to go to Rauf’s home and try this on the next day. We planned to leave the next morning but Rauf was engaged in the morning so we changed our plan to go in the afternoon. Before I came home he told me to come in the morning so that we can go once again through it before we leave for Rauf’s home.

On 4th early morning [That is 10 am!] I was in Sabeel’s home and spent some time watching TV and discussing some of the commands like ln [for linking files - or creating short cuts]. How soft links differ from hard links etc. We were really disappointed when Rauf told that there was no power there. But we were happy when he called again to tell us that the power came ane we were ready to leave. This time we were prepared with Xp and Partition magic Cds. We hoped to install the GNU/Linux system without troubling the existing Windows. His hard disk was 40 GB and it was divided into 4 equal partitions with one having windows 98, another with XP and the rest data. Both the data partitions were almost filled (He had effectively only 20Gb for data). So we had to resize the C or D drive to install GNU/Linux. The partition editor (GNU parted with QT gui) couldn’t resize those partitions. it threw an error message [Now I know it was an error with the partition table as Partition Magic also failed to successfully resize it - well, it resized and gave a message that it successfully did so but upon reboot it didn't boot again. These partitions were avialable from GNU/linux box but strangly (!) Windows failed to recognise FAT32 file systems!!]. The sequence of actions is as follows.
Firstly, we installed Partition Magic. Secondly, resized C drive to 5GB and remaining free space was formatted with one swap partition of 512 MB and the rest ext3 filesystem. C drive was primary and now the newly created partitions are added to the extended partition as logical partitions. The partition magic reported that it need to restart the computer to complete some operation and after restarting it showed the message that it successfully completed the 4 operations . Now after a second reboot it freezed after the bios password step with a message..

Verifying DMI pool data…
and curser was blinking at the next line. There was no other activity except fan running! We waited for sometime. We could see the hardware listed on top CD Rom, CD RW, Floppy, Hard Disk, parallel and serial ports etc. But no sign of movement at all. I thought it was the BIOS that was doing this checking and I guessed (wrongly) that it might be checking the entire hard disk and it may take some time. To our hope (later proved wrong),we thought ‘Hard Disk SMART Disabled’ will be the cause of the problem and so we rebooted after enabling itbut the result was the same.

WE THOUGHT THAT HIS HARD DISK HAS GONE!

Now as a next step we thought that we should try GNU/Linux ( We had latest [9.3] Suse flavour of GNU/Linux ) and make sure it is neither the problem with hard disk nor with BIOS. So we inserted the first CD into the CR ROM drve and pressed the reset key with CD ROM drive as the first boot device.

To our great relief the welcome screen of Suse (With its characteristic welcome in many languages) greeted us.
Now we know that it not the BIOS problem.
We moved on with installtion and Suse has chosen rightly the swap and ext3 partitions (and it was chosen to format to raiserfs), but to my slight disappointment it failed to recognise 98 and XP but it recognised both the data partitions.
Now we know that it not the problem with the Hard Disk too but Windows’ own problem
we moved forward with other basic setups like keyboard layout, timezone etc. But the power was against us It went off and his UPS was not in good condition that it halted. Now we waited for power to be back. When the power came back we started installing again from scratch (welcome screen) but power went off again after some steps. The pattern repeated for about 5 times ! [Both Rauf and Sabeel know the setup by heart ]. We thought everything is against us and his computer didn’t like the whole affair at all. But we were optimistic and we pressed on.

Then the power lasted till installtion from the first CD was over [Like its predecessors Suse 9.3 also comes with 5 CDs full of softwares which satisfies typically all users]. The system was now in hard disk [grub was installed ] and it rebooted to continue with installtion from the remaining disks. Power went off agin and we thanked God that the first step (and a great step) was over.

We completed the installation but when we played with sax2 the resolution was so big that we had to move the mouse pointer out of the screen to make that portion visisble. Anyway it was nice and working. We tried to chose the right resolution using sax2, but we left it as it was. Now we selected GNOME 2.10 (KDE 3.4 is the default Window Manager) for installtion using Yast (Yet Another Setup Tool – The all in one setup tool for Suse, right from start of installtion to maintenance, Yast has all, and it is very easy to use, just point and click on whatever you want and it works!). But it was taking a long time and we left it to Rauf and started our journey back. It was 8pm and we were relieved (not fully as XP was still not working and Rauf didn’t show his tension but we could read it on his face) that at last his system is working [Even RF simulator - aprogram installed in windows was successfully run using wine. It shows wine has matured a lot].

After spending some time in Sabeel’s home, he droped me in my home. We decided to have another go the next day. When I came back home my mom told me that Maniyettan (My Valliachan’s, ie, uncle’s son.) wanted me to go with him to Kadampuzha temple the next day. I was to be ready by 5 am [He had bought a new car [Maruti] two days back]. So I setup the alarm and went to bed. There was another funny incident. I went to bed when I heard two coconuts falling, I heard the same the previous day too !! [It was not fear but a bit lack of courage ].

To be continued …
Update: Second part is out now (Hacking on second day)
Another day at Rauf’s home

On this Thursday (19 May), I decided to visit my friend. But when the phone didn’t give any reply I tried calling Sreejith. He was in Chennai for his final year project at AltoSys on RT Linux ie, Real Time Linux, when I called him last week. Here the result was an engaged tone. I was really confused as I told my grand mom and aunt (Valliammayi) that I will be going to Mannarmala (which I planned after this) and I won’t be coming back today. I’ll have to go to Mannarmala in the morning itself. I tried to call my aunt at Manjeri to see whether Sheenechi has come back from Bangalore. I was told that she will be back only on 30th which I confused to be on this week. [This was the second or thord time in the 3 weeks, I went wrong with a 'date' !! I missed Changathikkoottam before, I thought it was on 8,9 and confused it with 7,8 and I was sure of 8 and when I went there I came to know that it was really on 9,10 !!!]

So next I dialled KD [ not a 'known defaulter' but my friend Kiran Das, we used to call him KD or K', read K-dash] and this time I was lucky to get him on mobile [I have been trying to call him all these days but couldn't get as he didn't have range at home]. I told him I’m coming straight there. But he had to go to Ashram to meet his uncle and he may have to move to Mookambika.

Again confused as where to go. I thought that I’ll go to Mannarmal and try calling Sreejith and if I get him, I’ll go there. I tried for the last time (about 10th time) if I can get to Sreejith.

Oh! This time when I dialled Sreejith was on the other side. He told me that a small kid (his sister’s daughter) might have mis placed the receiver !! I told him that I’m coming and at first he told he is busy as his mother, sister and others are going to Chennai to meet his mother’s sister. Then he told me to Ok and I went there.

After the initial chitchat we had lunch [I reached there by noon]. Then we sat and discussed a variety of issues and shared new ideas and applied some old concepts to new areas. He described about his experience in Chennai with AltoSys project on RTLInuxPro (which costs 2 lakh INR and 7 lakh INR with the source code). From AltoSys site :

We have partnered with FSMLabs to support and distribute their world renowned flagship product RTLinuxPro in India. RTLinuxPro is the most comprehensive Real Time Operating System (RTOS) that offers a complete development environment to develop mission critical real time applications which cannot offer to miss deadlines and deeply embedded applications which have started to find inroads in to every electronic gadget that we think off.

RTLinux can be installed to linux kernel and which can be used for hard real time systems [VxWorks, which is based on BSD and QNX are other platforms used for Realtime applications development]. The system which we use for our everyday purpose [say GNU/Linux or Ms. Windows] are soft real time systems, which can tolerate some lag in response [Ms. Windows users might remember how 'fast' sometimes the system responds!]. Once this module is inserted, it stops all interrupts to the linux kernel. It considers the entire process tree under linux kernel as a single process with the lowest priority assigned to it. The difference in RT application from the normal ones is the very fast response [very small response time]. If we schedule a task to start after 10ms it will start after 10ms what may happen. Their project was speed control of a motor with RTLinux [using the freely available RTAI toolkit]. He told me about their project presentation [He is great at explaining things . He explained to me all fandas of the Matrix movie when we met last time and I became a fan of the movie after that and watched it when I was back in college]

We can visibly differentiate the sequence of an LED blinking which is controlled by RTOS and non-real time OS [He has developed install scripts for installation of real time linux . It is a 40 MB bundle with entire toolkit with network support and he plans to improve it with Makefies, which he learned at Altosys]. The recognisable pattern changes if we load the system by launching some applications. The same thing when repeated eith RTLinux preserved the same sequence of LED blinkings. The pattern was intact whatever be the system load. Their project was to regulate the speed of an electric motor. Suppose we set a target speed of 3000rpm, then the first priority of the system is to achieve this speed when it is started. Suppose if we load the motor or apply brakes and when the speed fall below a set value, the supply is increased so as to reach 3000rpm.

Altosys has collaborated with FSMlabs USA and their projects are mainly for DRDO. He said that during training the examples used were Agni, Brahmos etc. For these computer controlled trajectories response time is critical, if there is a small error ie, there is delay in starting a process and exceeds the limit allowed, can in turn create very large errors.

He raised concern that if every software is open sourced, the section that cracks the software and is not in the main stream comes out to service sector causing job loss to the main stream and destruction of IT industry as a result!! This is a baseless argument and based on a common mistake that most perceive. They tend to believe that a FOSS product is one which is developed by a company and distributed free of cost with source code for everyone !! They don’t understant it is the process that help evolving such great softwares like Firefox and Samba which has got hackers around the globe working on it and improving it. [The developemnt in FOSS is not done by a single company but a large number of individuals around the world. The number may differ depending on the scope and size of the project]. It gets feedback from users in the early stage and everyuser will have what they will need from the software when it is evolved and it uses a lot of already available resources rather than starting from scratch [code reuse]. The classic example is the K3b CD burner which comes with KDE which uses a lot of command line tools to bring out an easy gui to these tools. It looks and works great. [NITC main CC gives users Suse GNU/Linux with k3b for CD burning and I burned all my CDs with that only]. Similarly Mplayer uses FFMPEG codecs for playing multimedia content.

He also says if all the software becomes FOSS, the system becomes symmetic and the world does not exist in such an ideal condition [of everything the same] and he says the world is asymmetric. If we look at each case individually things may seem different but there is an underlying symmetry in everything. I told him about De Broglie's priciple of matter waves. He says nature loves symmetry and so if waves has properties of matter then the matter also has got properties of waves [eg. wavelength] and this is the basis for the so called matter waves. Can you think of the wavelegth of a Cricket ball's associated wave ? [well we study how to calculate these in Plus Two Physics]. He also agreed upon the symmetry when we look things as a whole from a wider perspective. The best example is the golden ratio, the number psi which I read about in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. Nature loves symmetry and tries to achieve it. We all can look and live for a better world with every human being gets equal due.

'Why ? Why? Why?' is a book by KSSP in malayam that gives scientific answers to many common Whys. I have been reading it in the free time in Mannarmala.

[Comments and discussions on these thoughts are welcome. I may get another perspective of the things and I can learn it too.]

I’ve been able to engage myself in ‘something or other’ for the last 3 weeks since I left NITC, like
Changathikkoottam,
IT@School training,
Movies (Akkareyakkare Akkare, Ninathen vanthai),
Sleeping
Reading [K.L. Mohanavarma's 'Settlement', News papers -- almost complete!! ]
or ‘Bakar’ (Kathi) with sabeel (he left for exams on 14th).
Update: He is placed in HCL Infosystems through Campus Recruitment
I went to rauf’s home to demeonstrate GNU/Lnux as Sabeel got really exited as I kept on telling him about my hacks. Well, it seems his interest has gone as he saw it as a simple thing !!! [It was Suse 9.3 Professional and I could not go into much of the commands and configuration files and options ]. To some it is interesting when it is not common or not challenging.

We both share many interests and one thng we got in common is ‘the standard book/foreign author syndrome’. Those who suffers from it can be found with standard/foreign authored text book on the eve of any exams. Suresh Kumar told us that he also used to have this syndrome when he was in IITM. He used to study the subject after the exams if it is interesting [You know it is interesting when you read a good book] !! But clearly we lack this second characteristic of this particular syndrome!!!

I’ve been telling him colourfully how I hacked the boot.ini file when Windows XP in Manjunath’s computer stopped working when we partitioned it for Suse [Suse is trying to be more like Windows and so it choses the partions on its own and messes it up wholly at times like windows!!] and got XP back for him. It was a simple increment in the partition index as one partition was splitted for installing Suse and the absolute partition index [number of the partition with XP in it from the starting] was increased by 2 [one for the root partition and one for swap from the existing C drive], the problem wouldn’t have arised had XP been installed on the C drive. I could diagnose the root cause of the problem that it is boot.ini that is to be edited when it is saying HAL.DLL is missing error!!! because we solved exactly the same problem at Dilpu’s home at Harippad in Alleppey when I was there with Shankar for our IT (Industrial Training) at PGCL (Power Grid Corporation of India Limited).
….I had 3 IT during the 4 year period at NITC, during first year in Lower Periyar power House in Idukkki, during second year in TELK [Transformer & Electricals Kerala] in Ankamali and in the third year at PGCL Kayamkulam…

There we searched the net for solution to HAL.DLL missing problem through the newly installed Redhat GNU/Linux system.

At Rauf’s home Sabeel had to satisfie with a “Rauf’s XP” in place of “Microsoft XP Professional” [anyone can do it yaar -- as simple as it open the text file C:\boot.ini in notepad and change the quotes sya from "Microsoft XP Professional" to "Microsoft XP Pirated Edition"]
Update: We had longer and intense sessions after that

As GNU Partition editor (Qtparted -qt gui front end for GNU parted) couldnot resize the partitions. It was XP corrupting the partition table.
Update: It was proved correct when Partition manger “successfully” [It gave an output 'Successfully completed all operations!] messed up the partitions and lost both 98 and XP [If you believe this GNU/Linux could mount those partitions and Windows Installed failed to recognise the partitions]

We got a similar problem when we tried to install EduMorphix on KSTA computer at Palakkad. Arun of FSF India told us thet it was XP corrupting the partition table. I guess newer editions of partition editor might tackle it.

He had 4 partitions of 10GB each and almost complete and freeing a partition by copying was not an option. Another option we had was formatting C drive and divide it into two partitions – anyway 98 does not need 10GB and reinstall XP and install GNU/Linux into the newly freed space of C. As we didn’t have an XP CD we couldn’t go forward. [I didn't take a copy from college as I was sure that I wouldn't need it as I'm not going to use it nor I'm not going to give it to anyone. Now I guess Sabeel has a "copy" and we are gonna experiment at manjeri when he come back after exams. If Rauf is willing we can have it there too
Update: Infact we did go forward (both places too)!

I successfully installed Xandros for Chandramohan sir Freeing one partition for GNU/Linux after copying contents of it to another partition and deleting it. I also installed smoothly Photoshop 6 and 7 with Cross Over Office4.1 that comes with Xandros (30 day evaluation version).

Cross Over Office Really rocks!!!
It smoothly run Photoshop 6,7 (probably latest edition too, which I didn't try), Microsoft Office, Windows Media Player, Dreamweaver MX, iTunes, Quicken ... and the list is ever increasing. Previously I saw Cedega successfully playing Half Life 2 and Quake like graphics intensive games smoothly in Shyam's computer and he asserts it is only better in the Free OS [No hangs, crash...]. And it plays in native speed too. Now yet another argument is made invalid — “I have spents lots of money of software already and if I switch to GNU/linux how am I gonna use these softwares ?” Also some say “I am so familiar with Photoshop and Microsoft Office and it is tough to move to Gimp and Open Office”. Well now you can use your favorite apps in GNU/Linux as you would in Windows thanks to the wine [Wine Is Not and Emulator] hackers.

Ofcourse this is not a permanent solution to the problem but only an interim solution to the age old chicken and egg problem. “I’ll use Free Software when there is enough softwares and we will develop Free Software when there are a lot of people using it”. Well I don’t support non-free software bundled with the Free Distros. All the above was just to show how powerful and superb is wine.

Adobe has released two of its softwares under open source licenses recently and Macromedia (now owned by Adobe) had plans to release GNU/Linux versions of its popular offerings like DreamWeaver that run with wine.

May 9,10 Krishna ALP School Alanallur

Day 1

I got a chance to be a part of ‘Changathikkoottam’ conducted by Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) [As an organiser]. It was a wonderful experience – a going back in time to the good old days in school. The programme was arranged for kids of age 9-12 (standard 4 –7) as mid-summer vacation programme. The programme was attended by over 50 students from various parts of Alanallur Panchayath. Changathikkottam consisted of Origami – which teach one to make models by folding paper -, science experiments, songs and games. I read about the programme in news paper and when I met Murali master I got the dates for our Changathikkottam. I thought the programme was on 8,9 so I went to GVHSS Alanallur on 8th morning only to see an empty school campus. On 9th I wasn’t that enthusiastic and I reched there by 11am, where as the programme started by 10am. In the beginning I discussed about Free Software with Parishad members as I was seeking their support for our efforts to spread free software. My first chance to get involved in the programme was when the participants are divided into two groups and one group doing Origami and other doing experiments. I went with the latter team and the first experiment was a plastic boat then we did dancing button and fire extinguisher.

Plastic boat

Water is taken in a flat vessel. Paper was dipped in the water and soaked so that the oil gets removed with the paper. A plastic strip (a 5cm strip of a tongue cleaner) is cut in the form of a boat (more aptly a fish). The magic was when Murali sir placed camphor on the tail of the boat, the boat started moving and it continued to move above water surface.
Science behind the magic: – When camphor is dissolved in water it decreases the surface tension of water at the backside and the pressure difference pulls the boat forward. The kids were amused at the self-propelling boat and got the idea of the phenomenon of surface tension and the magic it can do. The explanation showed a mason’s tube (used for levelling) and showed the curved surface of the tube. Soap is also said to do the trick but I didn’t see the result. [Now as I write this I remember the classic example, which we were taught when we were learning surface tension – the spherical shape assumed by water, drops, which I could have told them had I remembered it then]

Dancing buttons

The next experiment was dancing buttons. Soda water is taken in a glass and plastic (shirt) buttons are dropped into the glass. The different coloured buttons made the dance more interesting. The basis for the experiment is the decomposition of soda water into water and Carbon Dioxide, CO2. The dissolved CO2 in soda water (carbonic acid) is liberated and the CO2 bubbles get adhered to the buttons and lift it above the water surface. When the buttons reach the surface level the CO2 is freed to atmosphere and the buttons goes down and the up-down motion of the buttons creating a wonderful dance. Then we discussed about CO2 in the atmosphere. The kids knew photosynthesis, which uses CO2 and light to prepare food (carbohydrates) and liberates Oxygen, O2. The plants also use O2 for respiration like animals do was also clarified to them.

In the night it is not advisable to sleep near a tree, as there is no photosynthesis to absorb CO2 and liberate O2 in the absence of light and as the tree absorb O2 for respiration and O2 is deficient near the tree in he night.

Fire Extinguisher

CO2 is used as a fire extinguisher in theatres and other closed places for its ability to cut the contact with O2, which is required for Oxidation (fire). The experiment was the demonstration of a simple method for producing CO2. Vinegar (acetic acid) is taken in a bottle and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is added and shaken well to get CO2. The froth is similar to champagne when Schumacher wins Formula One or the Aussie wins a cricket test match. This is a wonderful experiment and I tried it at home [If you cannot afford Champagne this is a wonderful replacement].

After this experiment we went to the other room where Origami was going on and the teams got swapped. Gopalkrishnan master of Krishna school demonstrated origami. First we made a Mar papa hat with newspaper. [I hope to post different steps of making the hat once I get a dig cam or ask me if you want to know]. Then the same hat is made to a Gandhi-Nehru hat. After this we had lunch break.

Afternoon session started with sprayer experiment. It was a demonstration of a simple mechanism to make a sprayer. A glass of water is taken and a straw is placed in it. Using another straw air is blown along the open end by keeping the two straws perpendicular to each other. The water started to flow in the form of spray. When we blow near the top of the immersed straw, the air is displaced and air from inside the straw takes its place and water starts coming up as the air moves up and when it come out the blow make it in the form of spray. Madhu master of Bhimnad School demonstrated it and then the kids tried it. It was a very interesting experiment.

The next experiment was using a 5-rupee note. It was a manifestation of persistence of vision, which is the principle behind movies seeming so real. A 5-rupee note is dropped and the kids were asked to catch it with two fingers (thumb and index) kept in the same level of the note. Madhu master demonstrated this experiment. I also got a chance to try (Those who could catch it would have got it). Nobody could catch it except Madhu master himself dropping and catching himself. It was because of persistence of vision of our eye. Even after the note is dropped it remain in its position for some time (1/16th of a second I guess). Even after our eye registers the drop after this delay it takes time for our brain to give instruction to catch the note to the tips of the fingers. So finally when the instruction is reached the tip of the fingers the note had gone to look its job. When he do the dropping and catching he knows exactly when the note is dropping and he can catch it. The next was games session. The games of the day were ‘Thoovalakali’, ‘Letters in your name’ and a Ball game.
Letters in your name

The 26 letters of the English alphabet are marked each in a piece of paper. The children are instructed to stand behind a line (starting line). A letter is selected at random and for each occurrence of the letter in the name kids can jump forward. For a wrong jump they had to jump back. The first one to cross the finishing line (or all those who crossed after all letters are chosen). The winner needs luck (long name) and then the ability to jump as long as possible.

Thoovalakkali

The entire group is divided into two teams and each team is placed at a distance and facing each other. Two lines are drawn for each team. Each one in the team is given a number starting from 1. At equal distance from each team in the centre, a kerchief (or a ball or something that can be picked and run) is placed. As the referee calls a number at random that person from each team rushes forward and try to get hold of the kerchief and run to their teams end without letting the other to touch. If the second team member touches the first with the kerchief the first is out otherwise the second is out of the game.
The team with more number of players left at the end of the game (when all numbers are called out) wins the game. The trick is letting other person to take the kerchief and touch him. The chance for the other way is very less.

Another was a ball game; I don’t know what to call it. It is played like this: -
The group is divided into two teams. Each team stand side to side like in a queue. A ball is the first player in each team. He/she is supposed to pass it on to the next one behind him without looking back. He gives to one behind him and so on. When the ball is reached the last player, he runs to the first player with the ball and pass it on to him/her. The first team to complete the cycle (all the player got a chance to be the first player) wins the game. The days programme was dispersed after a song by Murali master. After the kids left we sat back and discussed plans for the next day.

About the second day next time [It has taken a good time for me to write all this and type it. It was a tough abstract to discrete transform].

Within two days of coming here I saw two movies ‘Lakshya’ a Hindi film starring Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta also the first installment of Matrix trilogy, ‘The Matrix’. I was not interested in that movie when everyone went to see that. But after hearing the story I wanted badly to see that. Now I’ll see the remaining parts soon.

Gotta go now

Its Placement time and everyone is anxious about a job.