When the virus went viral....

For long the nature was taken for granted

The hunter now has become the hunted

A lesson was long due for the mankind

As it has really turned blind

To not realize the damage being done

In the name of palate and sensory fun

And bang! came the needle ball demon

Snuffing out lives of men and women

It brought in a new world order

Wherein a simple handshake is making people shudder 

Life on Earth is now looking bleak

With the viral demon feasting on the weak

The governments have gone bonkers

And made the businesses down their shutters

Breathing has become a labored affair 

With people forced to use face wear

But then it's the only hopeful defense in addition to social distance 

To protect from the ballsy virus-sanctioned death sentence 

Blockchain: Is it a game changer?

Introduction  

Blockchain can be described as a distributed ledger with a record of transactions. It is a shared information database that allows public storing of information and is easily accessible. The entries or transactions made in blockchain remain secure and cannot be modified.  

It is a decentralized system which stores blocks of information that remain identical across the network. Each block includes a timestamp that records the transactions and provides a strong proof of the transactions made. The technology allows distribution of digital information without being copied.

In blockchain, the control does not belong to any single entity and this helps in protecting it from failure. Users cannot delete or modify any record and a transaction cannot take place without validation from other authorized members.

Background

Blockchain was developed in 2008 by an entity known as Satoshi Nakamoto. The technology was initially devised for Bitcoin, a digital currency to enable transactions without the involvement of banks. With the success of bitcoin, the technology was then extended to other applications such as stock trading and health care. At present there are many other blockchain-enabled cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple.

Why Blockchain?  

Blockchain users can stay in control of the data and business transactions. Data is reliable due to accuracy, consistency, transparency and timeliness. The peer-to-peer transactional nature in blockchain eliminates the need for third parties which results in substantial savings in terms of overhead costs.

It also facilitates audit of user accounts and provides heightened security to protect the system from fraud and hacking.

The hacking instances that were reported in blockchain were due to discrepancies in its implementation by companies and not due to vulnerabilities in the technology.  

Blockchain can support the digital transformation of enterprises in terms of automation, smart contracts, and process digitization.

What is the flipside?

Blockchain is a complex concept and the lack of scale increases its implementation costs. There is lag in performance due to aspects such as verification of signature, redundancy and agreement mechanisms. Transactions can be complete only when all the concerned parties update their respective ledgers which may take many hours.

While the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions builds credibility, it also creates problems as it eliminates the scope for course correction. For instance, mistakes made during a transaction cannot be corrected and this may result in potential losses for the users when it involves transactions such as stock trading.

The value of cryptocurrencies is mostly speculative in nature and is largely driven by major news events and investor sentiment.

Where is it used?

Blockchain has many applications and is adopted by various sectors such as banking and shipping. In the shipping industry, blockchain technology can enable better utilization of assets and help in forecasting volumes.

Companies have started using technology for managing the supply chain. It helps to track the entire chain of activities right from sourcing materials to distribution of finished products. 

Blockchain can add value to the education system by making the online data channel transparent and secure. It also helps in verifying the authenticity of shared records independently and privately. Student records can be secured and data can be shared between consenting parties or member institutions.

Intellectual property rights can also be protected using this technology. For instance artists and authors can have their works registered to a blockchain which serves as an evidence of their ownership.

In areas such as property rights and land tenure, ownership and legality often become an issue. While physical records may be modified or get lost, blockchain can serve as a valid referral system offering a clear picture regarding land registrations and ownership rights.

Conclusion

While blockchain technology is yet to be widely adopted, it will continue to gain traction given its applications in automotive and retail sectors in managing the supply chain.

The Indian banking sector too is betting big on the technology which is evident from recent developments such as the State Bank of India announcing plans to launch blockchain-enabled smart contracts.

Due to changing regulatory and business environment, there could be governance issues related to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. This could prompt businesses to adopt private blockchain solutions.

The transparent nature of blockchain technology makes it beneficial for businesses as prices and terms are visible and verifiable.

Arjun reddy - an experience

Though not a fan of the romance genre, the name of the film and posters piqued my interest to watch the film. I was dumbstruck at the level of reception the film received and it also spoiled my movie-watching experience to an extent. At the end of the movie, it was the characters that stood out for me. A rather simple tale of "love - disappointment - redemption" turned out to be an experience that I can cherish for a long time, thanks to the vision of the film's director, Sandeep Vanga and the way it was presented.

The movie revolves around Arjun Reddy, brilliantly portrayed by Vijay Sai Devarakonda, a medical student and a lover boy with a devil-may-care attitude and a volatile temperament. He falls in love with Preeti, his junior, in the college and she reciprocates slowly, but deeply. However, due to circumstances, Preeti gets married to an other guy and Arjun Reddy falls into depression and is forced to leave his folks and lead a solitary life filled with smoke, drinks and drugs.

He works as a surgeon and one bad day, he gets in trouble with hospital authorities over his alcoholism and unprofessional behavior. How he deals with it and how he gets back to being normal forms the rest of the story.

While the plot may look like nothing new, the scenes and the way the characters are sketched makes the film stand apart. While there are love-making and kissing scenes, they are in no way obscene and women are not portrayed as mere objects of sensuality. The cuss words, though muted, only reflect the anger and frustration that any normal person undergoes.

Personally, I liked the characterization of Arjun Reddy's friend played by Rahul Ramakrishna. The guy enlivens the scenes and adds humor to the otherwise serious film. The movie is one hell of a journey that is satisfying in the end. Experience it..

LA LA Land - Land of dreams and alternate destiny

I hate musicals. I nearly gave up watching la la land. The glowing reviews and multiple nominations that it received made me reconsider my decision. Here I am reviewing the movie to let the world know how it good it was. I know, I'm a very late comer. The movie got soul and I got no words to describe the ending. 

The movie has got a very simple plot about two people who want to pursue their respective dreams. They meet, they respect each others' interests, fall in love, help themselves, part ways to pursue and fulfill their dreams. But it wasn't a song and dance affair like other musicals. The balance was neat with the drama unfolding in a beautiful way. The songs bring out the emotions in an elegant manner and transport you right into the picture.   

The movie is sure to let the sensitive souls teary-eyed in the end. It is bound to remain in your hearts for a long time. I won't be surprised if it hijacks the oscars. 

Out of the box thinking or Outrageous thinking

To beat the monotony, we usually adopt the "mix and match" approach when it comes to clothes, food or drinks. Hollywood has become a master of this approach, but with mixed results. Bending genres and juggling characters has become a norm today to bring in the younger crop of the audience to the theaters. Aliens vs cowboys??? That too, with Daniel Craig as cowboy? I bet most would have felt awful over the thought than being awestruck.

Now, let us steer the topic to the current hot pic at the box office, Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. Pitting the two super heroes against each other and finally uniting them with "mother sentiment" as in Indian movies? Never expected in my wildest imagination that Hollywood would tread this path. Despite the humongous budget, heavy special effects, there wasn't anything special other than presence of the two super heroes. The interesting premise being how Batman, a mere human with custom-made weaponry can fight a God-like Superman who is indestructible. Well, this question was convincingly answered. Watch the movie, you'll know. 

For "out of the box", I will quote Deadpool. Witty, violent and genre-defying. The Outrageous list includes Aliens vs Predator, Abraham Lincoln:The vampire hunter, and the very recent, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Hope the filmmakers not just rely on sensation, but also impart sense into their movies. On our part, let's honour the craft and not fall for the crafty stuff.

Creed - Stallone's incredible journey

Mr.stallone has come a full circle was his Rocky balboa persona. With age catching up, he has moved to mentorship over action in the ring. After entertaining us with his action yarns over the years, this time he has decided to entice us with his performance. With Creed, Mr.stallone has exhibited immense grace with his performance as an aged champion who reluctantly takes under his wings the budding boxer, the son of his old friend, who was an able match to him in his boxing days.  The film focuses on the bonding between the young gun and the legend. The movie rather than being yet another underdog drama, surprises us with its human approach and satisfies us at an emotional level. The film worked for me. 

My first and the best trek ever

For the first time in my life, I went on a road trip with my buddy to Udayagiri which is about a 100 kilometres from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.Our trip started at 05:15 AM on 26th September 2015. We reached Nellore around 08:15 AM. With the help of my cousin in Nellore, we headed to Celebrations, a popular place for breakfast. We had steamed idlis soaked in Sambar, then Vada, Masala dosa and Pesarattu Upma, an Andhra speciality item. It was a great start for a long way ahead. 

With the help of a kind hearted localite, we figured our way to Udayagiri. After a good three hour journey, we reached Udayagiri and found ourselves staring at a rough patch of road and a tall hill in front of us. With no sign of life, but for a few bikes parked there, we confidently parked our vehicle and started our long trek. The steps to the hill were too steep to climb and after about a mere 15 minutes, we were gasping for breath. We reached for our first sip of water and headed again. Our surroundings were thick with trees, creepers, monkeys, noise of the crickets, bugs and quite eerie. We started to experience fear and an uncertain path ahead. But to our comfort, we bumped into a few people on the way. We continued our trek without talking to any of them. Our several short breaks were centered on the stunning surroundings and surprises that nature and history threw at us. We became the shutter bugs among those countless harmless micro bugs that we came across. 

We wondered at the remnants of the fort walls on the hill and how perilous the construction would have been in those times. The best part of our trek was the visibility and the level of the adjacent hill that at regular intervals indicated how far we got ahead in our trek. The adjacent hill seemed like a marvelous piece of nature's work with its rust colored rocks and lush green trees. We were awe-struck many a times at the sheer grandeur of the hills and the surroundings. Given the task at hand, we controlled our anxiety and admiration for the nature's and the man-made wonders or rather blunders. After a good two and a half hour trek, we came across directions to a big mosque and a small mosque. We choose to take the path leading to the small mosque. The path was too narrow with the tree branches too low and a good number of monkeys perched on them. We retreated at the sight of those monkeys that made us quite uncomfortable. We found respite at a jamun tree that was quite different in every aspect. The tree wasn't that tall and most surprisingly, it had berries that were as small as green peas and they grew in huge bunches all over the tree. With hestiation, we had a small bite of the already tiny berry. It tasted like the jamun fruit but with less flesh. And, also to our surprise, we found a couple of young guns who told us that they've taken the path to the big mosque but to no avail. They said it was the top most part of the hill. We were disappointed to hear that. But having gone that far, we wanted to complete the trek to the top most part of the hill. We took the path that seemed treacherous and instilled in us a fear of the unforeseen, reminding us of some horror movie set-ups. But soon, we were awe-struck at the almost Scotland-like sight in front of us. The last remaining ruins of the fort walls were magnificent and the adjacent hill seemed to say hello to us. 

We felt happy and had a sense of achievement of conquering a peak. But then, as a twist in the tale, my friend and I had a disagreement over the path that led to the peak. Not to hurt his judgement, I agreed and followed him on a path that was even more scary. It was going downhill and too steep and it then made us realize our wrong step. We lost no time in heading back and soon found ourselves familiar with the terrain. It was a huge sign of relief and with dusk only a few hours away, we made our path down at a hurried pace. We again, came across a another group of youngsters who checked with us about the path to the mosques. They choose to head towards the small mosque and we headed downhill. Very soon, the young group came down and we were taken aback with their swift return. When I asked them about their quick return, one of them said, "We are youth". The reply made me feel older and made me realise that I had slowed down in life and that I was yet to come to terms with the reality. But deep in my heart, I never felt older and age was just a number. 

Finally, after five hours of "knees and ankle" war, we dragged our famished bodies to the foot of the hill. We saw some families and few youngsters who had their share of adventure or some leisurely moments. We splashed our faces with some sun-warmed water in our vehicle and slipped into some dry clothes. With our barely-there  energy levels and some disappointment (we expected a grand fortress, some palace remains, but had to be content with the ruined walls), we headed back to Nellore to refresh our starved bodies and souls with some beer and biriyani. Thanks to my great cousin again, we found a good place to dine. And, that was a mini-adventure indeed. After some chilled-beers for our souls, we reached for biriyanis for our bodies. The food turned out to be great, and it had me asking for more. Something, that never happened before. It was then, too late for us to head back to Chennai. We drove to a nearby hotel and treated ourselves to a much-deserves slumber. As the sun began to shine, we rose up and revved up to our source of life (livelihood), Chennai. On the way back, we had some flashbacks of our prior day episodes, shared some life moments, domestic and career disturbances, and all along, paying some toll fees and cursing the governance of the nation. Although, we are back to our daily grind, we do take time to discuss the time gone by. We do keep getting flashes of the memory of our wonderful trek. Yes, wonderful, it was.