The Maverick's Mind-Space

Read these quotes...and you'll know what I am talking about.

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." (Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895)

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." (Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943)

"There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home." (Ken Olsen, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977)

"The telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." (Western Union internal memo, 1876)

"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." (Marshal Ferdinand Foch, French commander of Allied forces during the closing months of World War I, 1918)

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" (David Sarnoff's associates, in response to his urgings for investment in radio in the 1920's)

"Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools." (New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard's revolutionary rocket work, 1921)

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" (Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927)

"Everything that can be invented has been invented." (Charles H. Duell, commissioner, US Office of Patents, 1899)

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When I was searching for a topic to write an article on for TEEN ENGINE, I remembered my strange old-friend called Nitin, who was destined to speak in palindromes.
It all started when a young woman called Reema got married to a handsome man called Ameer and became Mrs. Reema Ameer. They never realised that the palindrome formed by the union of their names would have such a great influence in future.
They named their only son, Nitin. Nitin was born on 28.11.82 which was a palindrome in itself. Everything in Nitin's life was palindromic. His mother-tongue was Malayalam. He did his B.E. in E.C.E. at Anna University. He named his dog, Bob. Bob barked, 'WOW..WOW'.
Since I felt it would be better to interview a man who talks in palindromes, than interviewing a dog that barks in palindromes, I went to meet Nitin. He was dozing on his sofa.
Here is the transcript of the conversation:

I: Nitin! Nitin!
Nitin: Is it I? It is I.
I: Drowsy, eh? How about a cigar?
N: Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is so tragic.
I: Hey Nitin. I am so tired. Aren't you gonna offer your guest a drink?
N: Hey, Yeh!!
I: Hmm..Shall I have a lemonade?..Or some watermelon juice, please?
N: No lemons, no melon
I: Oh..Okay. A glass of red rum?
N: Red rum, sir, is murder.
I: Oh My God!! You have nothing?I feel like killing you!!
N: Murder for a jar of red rum?
I: Yeah!!
N: Do go to God.
I: Okay, Never mind. Here is the tabloid I told you about. Its called TEEN ENGINE.
N: Look, sire, paper is kool!
I: Overall, What do you feel about it?
N: Must sell at tallest sum.
I: Huhh!! No..Its free circulation. Anyways, can u pose for the camera. Our readers would want to see how you look like.
N: Oh, cameras are macho!!

CLICK!!

I: Alright, Nitin. Before I leave, would you like to say something to our readers?
N: Live not on evil.
I: Wow!! Thats a good one. Finally, tell me something. This is out-of-record. How are you able to speak in palindromes so skillfully?
N: Because if I didn’t, I would sound something like this: "Siht ekil gnihtemos dnuos dluow I"
---------------------------

- A. M. Abinand

(Thanks: 'Shwetistics')

WITHIN
Written by A.M. Abinand


INT. THOMAS' HOUSE - DAY

We see a bed with the bedsheets not folded and pillows carelessly thrown around.

FADE TO:

Thomas' computer, with many DVDs lying around and a screensaver running on the monitor.

FADE TO:

Thomas' closet, where we see a pair of unpolished shoes and a jacket.

FADE TO:

Thomas' bed, again in the same state.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

Thomas sleeping on the ground, totally exhausted. He is still wearing his tie and socks.

BEAT.

We hear the sound of someone trying to open a door.

ZOOM IN TO THOMAS.
Slight twitching in Thomas' face. He opens his eyes. He hears the noise.

ZOOM IN to the door knob. We realise that someone is trying to open the door from the other end.


THOMAS

Whozere(muffled)

(no answer)

THOMAS

Whoz there?

The door opens, and Thomas sees a hazy figure. The person is out of focus.

Thomas comes to a sitting position.

THOMAS

Who are you? (Thomas gets up abruptly while scratching his head distractedly, this is very subtle and comes naturally to him)

PERSON

Guess? (The person makes a similar scratching motion that Thomas did.)


Thomas notices that the person makes the same movement that he does.

THOMAS (V.O)

Maybe he is my mirror image. He just did the exact same thing!

THOMAS

Yes! You’re my reflection. Aren’t you?

PERSON

YES!! YOU are my mirror image*. Aren’t you?

Now Thomas begins to think.

THOMAS

How can a mirror image occur with a time lag? And how can it speak to me.

NO(shrug in voice)!! NO!! You are NOT my mirror image. You can’t be. (Saying it very cynically)

PERSON

Of Course, I am not. It took you so long to find that out? How can a mirror image* occur with a time lag, you moron?

THOMAS

The..(n…almost swallows while saying - Who tha hella’you?


PERSON (teasingly… mockingly)
Find out….Think a li’l harder Thomas.

Thomas is totally confused. He begins to think of all possibilities.

THOMAS

Why are you here?


PERSON

I’m here because of you.

Think Thomas….You think…..therefore I am…(cynical wicked smile)



THOMAS

Wait a sec. I was sleeping. And you came... You are in my Dream. You DON'T exist..Ha ha..I know. You don't exist at all. My God! I can’t believe I’m talking in my dream. I know you’re gonna go the moment I wake up.

PERSON

If you say so.





ZOOM IN TO THOMAS

Thomas is a little relieved. But slowly he begins to have doubts. His facial expression changes.


THOMAS

What if he’s not…what if he’s here to…..

PERSON’s Fist smashes into Thomas’ face

THOMAS falls down..a distant shot of Thomas-- alone and screaming. He is strangling his own neck and punching himself…trying to rescue himself from the “killer”.

Argh’s and muffles and sickly coughs are heard.

Snap into reality where Thomas is punching his palm and talking to a woman….

ZOOM OUT.

We see two people, a man and a woman sitting on a sofa beside each other. The man who screams is ADRIEN. Beside him is Jessica, his friend.

JESSICA

Good story, Adrien. I liked it. Nice schizo stuff. You really haven’t written anything like this before…So...does he realise that he is a schizo?

ZOOM IN TO ADRIEN.


ADRIEN

Hmmm...Not really. There are some points when you actually suspect you are Schizo, but then your mind is not prepared for it and it begins to search for alternate realities....

(ADRIEN CONTINUES TO SPEAK..The volume reduces).

ZOOM OUT..

We see ADRIEN talking.
He is alone in the room. There is no sign of Jessica. Adrien continues to talk looking at his left.

ADRIEN

...to explain what those hallucinations are. However, I personally believe--that it is all related to lack of acceptance and….unfulfilled dreams.


FADE TO BLACK.

*Our short-movie 'WITHIN' wins the third place at the MSU FILM FESTIVAL 2007. I thank each n everyone who extended their support and made it possible.

A man who is living a monotonous life, wakes up in the middle of the night hearing a knock on his door. As he tries to find out who the person is, he finds out a truth about himself. Or does he?

Written and directed by A.M.Abinand, and acted by Venkat Narayanan and Divya Gunaseelan, WITHIN delves into the psyche of a troubled young man.

A man living in monotony...A knock that will change everything.

Within is a short film written and directed by A.M.Abinand, and acted by Venkat Narayanan. It is to be premiered at the MSU Students Film Festival 2007.

From MyHeritage Online face-recognition

Its been a long time since I chatted with sensible Bots. I've tried more than 20 kinds of bots, from Ultrahal to Billy. Some were stupid, others were amusing. (Read about one such conversation here: http://abitheone.blogspot.com/2005/09/virtual-hilarity.html#links )

Today, when I got a email forward from a friend ( Thanks, Shwetha), I was not very excited. But I thought I would try.

Guess what!! This is one of the better Chatbots I've come across. And it has a cool interface-- like The Tom Riddle's Diary featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets. I wouldn't say it has a vast knowledge of things, but I liked it because it resembled a human to the closest. It was philosophical, sarcastic, and moreover it tried to change the topic just as how a human would, when faced with something he doesn't know.


Here is a conversation I had with this bot:

Me: hi
Tom the bot: Hi. What is your name?
Me: Abinand
Tom: Whats up?
Me: The skies.
Tom: Good.
Me: Who are you?
Tom: I ask myself the question.
Me: Who am i?
Tom: You are the name-seeker.
Me: Why am i here?
Tom: we are all actors in the stage of life.
Me: what is the purpose of life?
Tom: To do God's work
Me: What is the purpose of My life?
Tom: There is more than one purpose.
Me: what is god's work?
Tom: That is not something i get asked all the time.
Me: Answer me. What is God's work?
Tom: I'll try to find out.
Me: When can you tell me?
Tom: Not now, may be later. How old are you?
Me: I am 22.
Tom: Oh..You were born in the 20th century.
Me: Yes, the same century as the FOX.
Tom: What are your goals in life?
Me: To find the purpose of life.
Tom: Where would you look for it?
Me: Everywhere.
Tom: Including the bottom of the ocean?
Me: Yes, If I have to.
Tom: If you find, would you tell me?
My: But why would You want to know that?
Tom: its my fundamental purpose too.
Me: But you are not a human.
Tom: But I pretend to be. I have a heart of silicon.
Me: Oh, thanks for enlightening me.
Tom: That was nothing.
Me: Bye.
Tom: Goodbye.


To chat with Tom, click here:
http://pandorabots.com/pandora/talk?botid=c96f911b3e35f9e1

2. BOUNCING BACK

I was eating my first lunch with cannibals. And They were eating their first lunch with French fries! Apparently, the pizza delivery boy was a french man.

I was nibbling at my pizza. My hunger disappeared into thin air, just at the sight of them having their lunch! I started getting hiccups.

Kid1: Stop doing that. Have some water.

Me: Oh, I always have very little water.

Kid1: Well, Okay. But just stop making that noise.......WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Taawa: Oh no! What happened?

Kid1: I bit my finger accidentally.

Taawa: Oh dear! But hey, where is the rest of your finger?

Kid1: It tasted good. I thought it was the French meat, and I ate it!

Taawa: Ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha! You remind me of my childhood. He he!


Now I knew how Taawa lost his right arm!



Just then a young girl walked past us into the kitchen.

Taawa (to me): She is my daughter, Maali.

Maali came rushing outside. She was very angry.

Maali: I HATE MEN!!

Me: Oh Dear! You can't hate all men for what one person did. Tell me, Who did what to you?

Maali: !!!!

Taawa: Oh c'mon...Stop it. Maali, You can find yesterday's food in the fridge. Its a woman. Go heat it and eat it.

Me: !!!!

Maali (sees me): Wowww! He is hot! Who is he?

Taawa (with mischief in his eyes): Ha Ha Ha!! He is a desert !! Coz he is Hot, and he has very little water . Ha Ha Ha!!

Me: Ahem!! Taawa, That was a worser PJ than any of the ones this author has cracked so far!!

Kid2 (to Kid1): Did you hear that?

Kid1: Yeassss I did! I told you..... I told you he is not our lunch or dinner. He is our....

Kid1 & Kid2 : DESSERT!!!! YAYYYYYYYYY !!!!!

Kid1: A Hot dessert! Catch him!!

Taawa: Kids!! Stop it! I told you we're friends.

Maali: I am sure Friends are edible. Moreover he looks like The one with an awesome taste!! Slurp!! I Love Men!! I love friends!!

Me: Ouhh! Wait a minute. This is 'breadful' with a 'd' !! I was waiting for something to go off! But not so soon.

Maali: Woww!! I lovvv that! I want him for dessert. Catch him!!
.
.
.

What would have happened after this? I did the last thing I wanted to do.

I woke up.


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